On Thursday, 21 August, Latvijas Banka is issuing a silver collector coin "Džemma" dedicated to the distinguished artist Džemma Skulme – a towering figure in Latvian art and cultural life. Her remarkable creative work and civic stance have played a pivotal role in shaping and preserving Latvia's national identity.
The artist was born on 20 September 1925 into the family of painter Oto Skulme and sculptor Marta Skulme. Her artistic legacy intertwines the enduring thread of family traditions, the pinnacle of interwar modernist achievements, and a fearless spirit of creative freedom even within the confines of socialist realism. Džemma Skulme began incorporating national motifs into her work as early as the 1960s, using them as symbols of national self-esteem and spiritual defiance. The triad of figures – the folk maiden, the caryatid, and the princess – became the core of her artistic identity.
The graphic design of the coin was created by artist Juris Petraškevičs. In the collector coin dedicated to the artist, he has sought to immortalise Džemma Skulme's distinctive brushstroke, capturing the essence of her unique "fingerprint" on the landscape of Latvian art and culture.
The silver collector coin "Džemma" will be on display for all interested visitors at the exhibition "Džemma" dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Džemma Skulme. The exhibition will be open to the public at the main building of the Latvian National Museum of Art from 23 August 2025 to 25 January 2026.
The collector coin will be available for purchase on the website e-monetas.lv from 12:00 (noon) on 21 August. The price of the coin is EUR 89.00; the purchase limit for one buyer is 3 coins. The coin has been struck by UAB Lietuvos monetų kalykla (Lithuania).
Latvijas Banka expresses its gratitude to Marta Skulme and Juris Dimiters, as well as to the Latvian National Museum of Art, for their collaboration in the creation of the collector coin.