Latvia’s “Personal Freedom” Coin Honored as Most Inspirational Coin Dated 2020 at 2022 COTY Awards
Latvia won the “Most Inspirational Coin” category at the 2022 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. Its “Personal Freedom” coin, dated 2020, was created by artist Beate Šņuka. Described as a young and promising designer, this is her debut coin.
The coin, which was struck by Mennica Polska S.A. (Poland), aims to represent the contemporary meaning of personal freedom. As described by Latvijas Banka:
The obverse and reverse of the coin features regular hexagonal pyramids, with their faces covered by frosting of different intensity, black colour print, gold plating or mirror surface. Multi-faceted individuals, each with a unique set of personality traits manifested in their actions, thinking and emotional reactions, constitute the society where each and every one has his/her rights and duties, understanding of the social norms and personal freedom.
The obverse is frosted, with a low regular hexagonal pyramid featured at the bottom left. Its faces are covered by frosting of different intensity, black color print, gold plating or mirror surface. The inscriptions 5 EURO, LATVIJA and 2020 are semi-circled to the right along the upper edge of the obverse.
The field of the reverse is filled with a mosaic of low regular hexagonal pyramids, with their faces covered by frosting of different intensity, black color print, gold plating or mirror surface. The edge contains two inscriptions, LATVIJAS BANKA, which are separated by rhombic dots.
The Personal Freedom coin has a face value of 5 Euro. It measures 35.00 millimeters and weighs 22 grams. Mintage is limited to 3,500 coins.