Latvia and the euro
The Latvian euro coins are put into circulation in Latvia Euro coins of the European currency Euro. Since there are not the letters "eu" in Latvian, the euro in Latvia is written " Eiro ". Latvia since 2014 a member of the Euro zone; January 15, 2014, the euro is the only valid currency in Latvia. Previously, the lats was cash.
History of introduction
On 29 April 2005 Latvia joined the exchange rate mechanism of the European Community. Already in 2008, Latvia wanted to introduce the euro - but this had to be postponed due to the financial crisis. On 5 March 2013, the Latvian Finance Minister Andris Vilks submitted the official application to join the euro in Brussels. He asked for the necessary test report of the EU Commission on the Euro - maturity. On June 5, 2013, the EU Commission recommended, by the presence of the convergence report, the inclusion of Latvia in the euro zone on 1 January 2014. Despite existing doubts about the convergence report of the EU Council of Finance Ministers at the ECOFIN July 9, 2013 has confirmed the accession of Latvia as 18 member of the euro zone. The European Commission welcomed Latvia in a press release dated December 31, 2013 as a member of the monetary union and explained the introduction of euro cash in the Latvian economy, as well as the modalities of the conversion price.
Design and production of the coins
The proposed draft of the Latvian euro coins were announced in July 2006. The 2-euro currency coin should adorn the figure on the top of the Latvian freedom monument that holds up three stars symbolizing the three parts of the country. However, this motif collided with the 2008 default made by the European Commission, according to which the stars are present on the outer ring in the same form and arrangement as on the European flag. In the newer, designed by Guntars Sietiņš design then you chose for the 2- euro coin the same motif that was previously provided already for the 1- euro coin, the representation of a Latvian in national costume. The Latvian artist Rihards Zariņš (1869-1939) had not only carried out after the 1918 proclamation of the Republic of Latvia - designed small and large national emblem, but also the " Milda " designed called Landesallegorie - now pictured on the custom of Laimonis Senbergs cent coins. Model for Zelma was Brauere (1900-1977), which symbolized Latvia in 1931 on the 5 - lats coin.
The Anprägung was made on July 31, 2013 by the representatives of the Latvian Central Bank Ilmars Rimšēvičs ( governor) and Māris Kalis ( Chairman of the Board) in the mint in Stuttgart Bad Cannstatt. Before the Baltic state the 18th member of the euro area on January 1, 2014 produced the State Mint of Baden -Württemberg, the entire initial Latvia with euro coins, a total of 400 million pieces. The Latvian euro coins were ( three nominal ) and Stuttgart ( five nominal ) produced in the mints of Karlsruhe.
2- euro commemorative coins
→ Main article: 2- euro commemorative coins
Future issues
- 2014: Riga European Capital of Culture 2014