On Wednesday, 25 May, Latvijas Banka is issuing a silver collector coin "Vilhelms Purvītis".
Vilhelms Purvītis (1872–1945) ranks among the most remarkable painters representing the period from the end of the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, and he was among the most prominent founders of the Latvian National Museum of Art and the Art Academy of Latvia.
Vilhelms Purvītis can also be considered a diplomat of Latvian art: his name already crossed Latvia's borders during his lifetime, his works were collected and awarded prizes at foreign exhibitions, and he himself was active in organising Latvian art exhibitions in European cities.
For the attention of the media and interested parties:
The collector coin will be available for purchase only on the website e-monetas.lv from 12.00 (noon) on 25 May. Mail delivery or personal pickup from Latvijas Banka Cashier's Offices at K.Valdemāra iela 1B, Riga will be possible. To smooth out the customer flow on the premises, each customer will be notified of the date when the order becomes available for pickup from Latvijas Banka Cashier's Offices in the order confirmation. Orders will be available for pickup in a period of 20 business days starting from the date indicated in the order confirmation. There can be no changing of the starting date for the pickup period.
The collector coin has been issued in exceptional time – it is this year that Latvia celebrates the artist's 150th birthday by organising a range of events. To mark the occasion, the Latvian National Museum of Art is also launching an exhibition entitled "PURVĪTIS" on 28 May.
The author of the graphic design of the coin "Vilhelms Purvītis" is Frančeska Kirke. The coin created by the artist interprets elements of the painting "Winter" by Vilhelms Purvītis: the lacy majestic birch trees, glittering water of the unfrozen lake and overcast winter sky. She transfers these elements to the silver coin in an elegant manner, using frosting, texture and mirror surface of varying intensity.
Starting from 12.00 (noon) on 25 May, the new coin will be on sale online via www.e-monetas.lv, Latvijas Banka's website for purchasing numismatic products. The price of the coin is 65.00 euro; the purchase limit for one buyer – 2 coins. The mintage of the coin is 4000. The coin has been struck by Lietuvos monetų kalykla (Lithuania).
The circulation coin set "Financial Literacy" in Brilliant Uncirculated quality will also be issued simultaneously on the same day. The set contains the euro circulation coins issued in 2022 whose nominal value ranges between 1 cent and 2 euro, including the new 2 euro commemorative coin "Financial Literacy", which was issued in April and available in gift packaging and rolls. The price of the circulation coin set is 25.00 euro, and the purchase limit for one buyer – 4 sets (total mintage 7000 sets).
The collector coin "Vilhelms Purvītis" and the coins included in the circulation coin set "Financial Literacy" are legal tender in the Republic of Latvia, yet the release of such coins in circulation is highly unlikely, as collector coins are in fact works of art and are in high demand among coin collectors and other interested parties.