The Bank of Latvia’s innovative “Cabbage” coin (KM#237) won the Best Silver Coin for Coin of the Year Awards (COTY) for 2024-dated coins. The uniquely shaped coin mimics the shape of a head of cabbage.
In Latvia, cabbage is a vegetable that holds significant symbolic meaning, representing health, fertility and prosperity. Cabbage reached the territory that is now Latvia between the 11th and 13th centuries through multiple routes and soon became one of the main vegetables used for cooking.
On New Year’s Eve, Latvians traditionally eat sauerkraut for the year’s “sour” moments or failures to leave no trace. It was believed that eating cabbage enhances fertility, a notion closely related to the myth that babies are found or born in cabbages.
The winning coin was created by artist and sculptor Martins Rozenfelds who submitted his design proposal to the open design competition organized by Latvijas Banka.
The obverse features a bird’s-eye view of an embossed head of cabbage. The inscription “LATVIJA” is semi-circled along the upper edge, whereas the inscription “5 EURO” is placed at the bottom. The reverse details the view from below of an embossed chopped head of cabbage.
The diameter of the Cabbage coin is 30 mm. It has a plain edge and weighs 23 grams. Mintage is limited to 3,500.