On 8 October, President of Latvia Egils Levits attended the opening of Bank of Latvia centenary exhibition ‘Our Values’.
In his speech, President Levits underlined that once a state is proclaimed, it starts building institutions required for the state to function. That is why this year we celebrate the centenary of our constitution, Satversme, parliament Saeima, institution of presidency of Latvia, Bank of Latvia and our money.
Coins are an embodiment of our values and symbols that are rooted in our national history and culture. They represent our worldviews, President added. ‘Latvian coin minting culture is well known and appreciated around the world. When you see all these many exciting and beautiful coins in one place, you can truly appreciate how unique they are. Latvia has the most beautiful money in the world!’ Egils Levits said.
When Latvia created its own currency, the lats, in 1922, it became a vital representation of Latvia’s statehood, a status it retained throughout the occupation. According to President Levits, many Latvians had ‘a small purse of 5-lat coins at home that reminded everyone of the state that we still had but could not openly claim’.
