Search This Blog

Saturday, 5 July 2025

4008) "Sun and Wind", Latvia: Latvijas Banka has brought out a 5 Euro Silver Proof Coin minted by the Netherlandse Munz (Netherlands Mint) depicting the wild rocker “Wind”, rampaging above the rooftops of the city on the one Face and the “Sun” – a woman lazily bathing in the sea, her hair rippling through the water like shimmering sunbeams on the other face: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2025:

 4008) "Sun and Wind", Latvia: Latvijas Banka has brought out a 5 Euro Silver Proof Coin minted by the Netherlandse Munz (Netherlands Mint) depicting the wild rocker “Wind”, rampaging above the rooftops of the city on the one Face and the “Sun” – a woman lazily bathing in the sea, her hair rippling through the water like shimmering sunbeams on the other face: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2025:

This coin dedicated to Liepāja brings together elements of Kurzeme's biggest city. 

There is something special about the people of Liepāja. No matter where they go, they stand out quietly. 

It might sound like a poetic contradiction, but the contrasts Liepāja has gathered over four centuries are not opposites. Take the old house of Mrs Hoijere: the white-painted window frames fit well on the black façade. The youthful concert hall Lielais dzintars can be both the loudest and quietest place in the city. Down by the beach, you feel the everlasting force of nature – the sharp wind and the sweltering sun, both strong, both real, at the same time. 

Buildings line up on the Obverse: from the cramped cabin of a fishing boat to the wide rooftops of the 17th century, through elegant Art Nouveau streets, past striking modern buildings and proud industrial relics. 

Finally, the gaze ascends the church towers' spires, reaching Liepāja's vast sky where the Wind sets the tone. Like an eternal street musician, it plays the weather vanes and whispers through people's souls.

The Coin:

The Reverse of the 5 Euro Silver Proof Coin is designed using varying intensities of frosting and gilding. 

It depicts the wild rocker "Wind", rampaging above the rooftops of the city. The background unfolds iconic elements of Liepāja: the harbourside, a fishing boat, the concert hall "Liepājas Dzintars", the Oskars Kalpaks Bridge spanning the Karosta Canal, the spires of churches, and the city's buildings. 

On the left side, the inscription "5 Euro" is placed in a semicircle; on the right, the inscription "LIEPĀJA 400" is arranged in two lines.

The Obverse of the 5 Euro Silver Proof Coin is designed using varying intensities of frosting and gilding. It shows the "Sun" – a woman lazily bathing in the sea, her hair rippling through the water like shimmering sunbeams. The year "2025" is positioned at the upper left, the inscription "LATVIJA" is arranged in a semicircular arc along the lower left edge. 

Edge

The inscriptions "LATVIJAS BANKA" and "LATVIJAS REPUBLIKA", separated by rhombic dots.

Soaking it all in, is the Sun – the Wind's most loyal listener. It only takes a short walk to go from the city's bustling heart to the calm, spacious beach. 

There, the centuries melt together like sand in your sandals and strands of hair drift over the water's surface, weaving with the glow of the afternoon sun. So where does Liepāja's strength lie? In its paradoxes? Or in the layers of its history? Can one side of a coin exist without the other? Here, opposites do not clash – they live in harmony. 

And in the tension between them, Liepāja carves out its own, unmistakable character. To mark Liepāja's 400th birthday, all of this is captured in a single coin: the "Sun and Wind".

The Specifications of this Coin are:

Face value: 5 Euro

Weight: 23.00 g

Diameter: 36.00 mm

Metal: silver of fineness .999; with gilding

Quality: proof

Maximum mintage: 3 000 pieces

Struck in 2025 by Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (The Netherlands) 

Designers:

Graphic design: Krišs Salmanis

Plaster model: Ligita Franckeviča






For other posts on Latvian Coins/Stamps, please visit the following links:
























Links on posts from Poland:








The Punk Universe Banknote/Voucher Series:







Links to some other posts on Kazakhstan coins on this Blog:

1) Astana, Kazakhstan: 20th Anniversary celebration of the Capital City of Kazakhstan (06.05.1998-06.05.2018): Silver 5000 Tenge Kilo Coin, 500 Tenge Silver Coin and 100 Tenge Cupro-Nickel Coin issued by the National Bank of Kazakhstan on 20.06.2018

2) New Coins of Kazakhstan - 2019 issue, brught out by the National Bank of Kazakhstan which include text in the Latin Alphabet, replacing the Cyrillic based Alphabet on previously/presently circulating issues: Coin Series issue date: 26.04.2019

3) 20,000 Tenge Commemorative Banknote, Kazakhstan: 30th Anniversary of Independence (1991-2021): The National Bank of Kazakhstan has issued a 20,000 Tenge Commemorative Banknote celebrating the country's independence from the USSR: Date of Banknote issue: 01.12.2021

4) Balkhash perch ("Perca schrenkii"), Kazakhstan: 1,000 Tenge Silver Proof Coins with unique three-dimensional relief features Balkhash perch and Cupro-nickel 200 Tenge Coins feature Natural Wildlife and fauna of the country: Year of Coin issue: 2023

Links to other posts on Ukrainian Coins/Banknotes on this Blog:












Posts on Transnistria:


Posts on Russia:

1) A 100 Rouble Banknote issued by Russia to commemorate the XXII Winter Olympics - (07-23 February 2014) held at Sochi, Russia

2) Commemorative Coins issued when the 1980 22nd Summer Olympics were held in Moscow (19.07.1980 to 03.08.1980)

3) 2018 "Federation Internationale de Football Association" (FIFA) World Cup being held in Russia between 14.06.2018 &15.07.2018: Some Coins and stamps issued by Russia, Australia, Hungary, Spain & France to commemorate the Tournament/Championship

4) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Kholmogory post road (Arkhangelsk - Vologda - Yaroclavi - Moscow), Russia: Europa 2020 theme: A stamp brought out by "Pochta Rossii"(Russian Post) featuring this important post road: Date of Stamp issue: 15.01.2020

5) Russia celebrates the "Return" Of Crimea to Russia in 2014, by issuing a circulation 5 Ruble Coin in 2019






To view a few posts on previous COTY and Coin Constellation (Russia) winners, please visit the following links:




 

2 comments:

  1. Santosh Khanna has commented:
    "A VERY informative post. Thanks for sharing."

    ReplyDelete