621) Latvian Folk Songs: "Smith Forges in the Sky": A 5 Euro Silver coin issued by the LATVIJAS BANKA in 2017:
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Latvijas Banka has issued a 5 euro silver collector coin “Smith Forges in the Sky” dedicated to Latvian folk songs.
The coin features some lines from a Latvian folk song and the drawings of artist Edgars Folks.
Dainas - Latvian Folk Songs:
The Latvian name for folk songs, Dainas, is borrowed from Lithuanian and has become a key word for the folk song tradition and the accomplishments of Krisjanis Barons as well as a symbol of the Latvian identity.
Cabinet of Folk Songs:
The drawings on this coin depict objects of nature and natural phenomena. As Nature and Natural phenomena is a very common motif in folk songs, this particular category of folk songs takes up quite a lot of space in Krisjanis Barons (1835-1923) Cabinet of Folk Songs, featured on the list of Registered Heritage of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme since 2001.
Thunder or the Heavenly Smith is accompanied by Sun and the daughters of Sun, Moon and an array of stars.
Thunder or the Heavenly Smith is accompanied by Sun and the daughters of Sun, Moon and an array of stars.
The Cabinet of Folk Songs now forms a part of the Latvian Folklore Collection and is located at the Latvian National Library, while, the mythical folk songs are still able to inspire and sometimes enable us to look at the world almost like through the eyes of a child.
There are bright and dark days in life as well as in folk songs. Silver sparks light up the world.
There are bright and dark days in life as well as in folk songs. Silver sparks light up the world.
The Cabinet of Dainas / Dainu skapis:
Dainu skapis is a cabinet with 73 drawers of three different sizes used as an editor's tool by Krišjānis Barons (1835-1923) working at the most famous edition of Latvian folksongs “Latvju Dainas” (published in 6 volumes / 8 tomes between 1894 and 1915).
The cabinet itself (as a furniture item) was made by a craftsman in Moscow in 1880, the contents of it – paper slips sized approx. 3 x 11 cm (which constitute the actual value of the heritage item) – are the collection of folksong texts sent to the editor by different collectors and copied from other sources available at the time of editing.
The material found there came from different individual collections, dating back to mid-19th century (the copied material comes from editions published as early as 1807).
The compilation work of the particular edition was started in 1878, so the bulk of the material is later than this date.
The cabinet itself (as a furniture item) was made by a craftsman in Moscow in 1880, the contents of it – paper slips sized approx. 3 x 11 cm (which constitute the actual value of the heritage item) – are the collection of folksong texts sent to the editor by different collectors and copied from other sources available at the time of editing.
The material found there came from different individual collections, dating back to mid-19th century (the copied material comes from editions published as early as 1807).
The compilation work of the particular edition was started in 1878, so the bulk of the material is later than this date.
The very idea of a folksong text publication was part of the Latvian National Revival. This movement followed the European Romantic tradition of the time searching for important heritage of the past to turn that into the cornerstone of the modern culture.
The particular work survived change of trends and Dainu skapis for many decades has been both a symbol of Latvianness and a priceless source for scholarly research.
The particular work survived change of trends and Dainu skapis for many decades has been both a symbol of Latvianness and a priceless source for scholarly research.
The Dainu skapis was transferred to the Archives of Latvian Folklore (ALF) in 1940, and has remained in the custody of this institution notwithstanding the administrative changes including the aforementioned institution in the structure of different other institutions (at the moment being the Archives of Latvian Folklore are a department of the University of Latvia Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art).
For 70 years the Dainu skapis has been a part of the folklore material collection of the ALF, situated in Riga, Latvia.
For 70 years the Dainu skapis has been a part of the folklore material collection of the ALF, situated in Riga, Latvia.
The Commemorative Silver coin:
The Obverse of the 5 Euro Silver coin
The Obverse of the 5 Euro Silver coin displays a rider wearing an ethnographic and ancient Latvian hero's outfit in the centre of the coin, with his right hand raised and holding an orb shooting nine lightning bolts in various directions (Thunder); there are clouds and raindrops around the horse.
This face of the coin bears an inscription “Kalejs kala debesis, ogles bira Daugava.” (meaning "Smith forges in the sky, the coals burst into the Daugava"), which comes from the Latvian Folk Song:
"Smith forges in the sky, The coals burst into the Daugava; I spread my shawl on the ground and collect a pile of silver".
This Latvian folk song is featured on this coin and the song is dedicated to all Latvian folk songs and bears a poetical message enhanced by the drawings of artist Edgars Folks.
"Smith forges in the sky, The coals burst into the Daugava; I spread my shawl on the ground and collect a pile of silver".
This Latvian folk song is featured on this coin and the song is dedicated to all Latvian folk songs and bears a poetical message enhanced by the drawings of artist Edgars Folks.
The fierce rider personifies the element of nature pouring down from the heavens the nourishment required for fertility and prosperity.
In the Latvian mythology, this heavenly smith is called Thunder or Father Thunder and he has quite a big family: mother, daughters, sons and even a daughter-in-law.
Many folk songs mention as many as nine sons of Thunder who also play the pipe and beat the drums. The daughters of Thunder create rain, his wife sifts the rain, but she can also rumble.
Father Thunder can be armed with a sword, a whip, an iron rod, a bolt, an arrow and a fiery bludgeon.
His counterparts in the mythology of other nations are Jupiter, the ancient Roman god, and the mighty Zeus of the ancient Greeks.
Thunder was very popular on the present-day territory of Latvia as suggested by, for example, an observation made by the Jesuits of Daugavpils in 1734 describing how mead was brought to the middle of a field as an offering to the Holy Thunder.
Most of the time, Father Thunder only scares us and showers fertile rain on the fields. The silver drops quench the thirsty plants, make the farmers wealthier and the maidens of Riga can now wash their silk sheets. The silver is transformed into brooches, bracelets, rings, pins, crowns and other pieces of jewellery.
The Reverse of the 5 Euro coin
In the Latvian mythology, this heavenly smith is called Thunder or Father Thunder and he has quite a big family: mother, daughters, sons and even a daughter-in-law.
Many folk songs mention as many as nine sons of Thunder who also play the pipe and beat the drums. The daughters of Thunder create rain, his wife sifts the rain, but she can also rumble.
Father Thunder can be armed with a sword, a whip, an iron rod, a bolt, an arrow and a fiery bludgeon.
His counterparts in the mythology of other nations are Jupiter, the ancient Roman god, and the mighty Zeus of the ancient Greeks.
Thunder was very popular on the present-day territory of Latvia as suggested by, for example, an observation made by the Jesuits of Daugavpils in 1734 describing how mead was brought to the middle of a field as an offering to the Holy Thunder.
Most of the time, Father Thunder only scares us and showers fertile rain on the fields. The silver drops quench the thirsty plants, make the farmers wealthier and the maidens of Riga can now wash their silk sheets. The silver is transformed into brooches, bracelets, rings, pins, crowns and other pieces of jewellery.
The Reverse of the 5 Euro Silver coin features a shawl spread on the ground and silver jewellery falling from the sky.
The upper part of the coin features images of Latvian ethnographic jewellery and raindrops, an inscription "5 EURO" and a shawl with a headpiece and jewellery on it are featured underneath, with the inscription of the year 2017 placed to the right. An inscription "ES PAKLĀJU VILLAINĪTI, MAN PIEBIRA SUDRABIŅA." (meaning "I spread my shawl on the ground and collect a pile of silver") is arranged in a semi-circle above the central motif.
The edge of the 5 Euro Silver coin
The edge of the coin bears the inscriptions LATVIJAS BANKA and LATVIJAS REPUBLIKA, separated by rhombic dots.
The specifications of the 5 Euro Coin are:
Face value: 5 Euro; Weight: 31.47 grams; Diameter: 38.61 mm; Metal Composition: .925 silver; Coin Quality: Proof; Maximum mintage: 4,000 ; Year of Minting: 2017 Minted by: Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (The Netherlands);
Graphic design: Edgar Folks; Plaster model: Ligita Franckevica
The upper part of the coin features images of Latvian ethnographic jewellery and raindrops, an inscription "5 EURO" and a shawl with a headpiece and jewellery on it are featured underneath, with the inscription of the year 2017 placed to the right. An inscription "ES PAKLĀJU VILLAINĪTI, MAN PIEBIRA SUDRABIŅA." (meaning "I spread my shawl on the ground and collect a pile of silver") is arranged in a semi-circle above the central motif.
The edge of the 5 Euro Silver coin
The edge of the coin bears the inscriptions LATVIJAS BANKA and LATVIJAS REPUBLIKA, separated by rhombic dots.
The specifications of the 5 Euro Coin are:
Face value: 5 Euro; Weight: 31.47 grams; Diameter: 38.61 mm; Metal Composition: .925 silver; Coin Quality: Proof; Maximum mintage: 4,000 ; Year of Minting: 2017 Minted by: Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (The Netherlands);
Graphic design: Edgar Folks; Plaster model: Ligita Franckevica
General remarks: The collector coin “Smith Forges in the Sky” is legal tender in the Republic of Latvia, yet the release of such coins in circulation is highly unlikely, as they are, in fact, works of art and are in special demand among coin collectors and other interested parties.
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