In the numismatics world, coins issued by Latvijas Banka stand out for their high artistic quality and originality, and do not always conform to traditional conventions. Since 1997, collector and commemorative coins have regularly received prestigious awards in various international competitions and are highly valued worldwide.
International Awards
Coin of the Year Award
Twice, collector coins issued by Latvijas Banka have received the highest of honours – the main prize or the absolute victory – in the most prestigious international coin competition "Coin of the Year", in which banks and mints from the entire world participate. This award is comparable to the Oscars in the film industry.
Honey Coin
In 2020, the collector coin "Honey Coin" was recognized as the world’s "Coin of the Year", achieving absolute victory among all entries, as well as winning in the "Most Artistic Coin" category.
Coin of Latvia
The same recognition was awarded to the "Coin of Latvia" in 2010, when it was named the "Coin of the Year" and received the main prize.
Latest Awards
Cabbage
1st place: the "Best Silver Coin"
The collector coin "Cabbage" issued in 2024 secured the first prize in the "Best Silver Coin" category in the 2025 Coin of the Year competition.
Riga Fashion
1st place: the "Most Artistic Coin"
The collector coin "Riga Fashion" issued in 2023 was awarded the first prize in the "Most Artistic Coin" category in the 2024 Coin of the Year competition.
Ligita Franckeviča
Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2024, Ligita Franckeviča, the author of many plaster models of Latvijas Banka's coins, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in coin art. This is the first time ever for an artist from Latvia to receive such distinction.
Linden leaf
In 2022, the collector coin "Linden leaf" won the first prize in the "Best Silver Coin" category in the international coin competition Coin of the Year.
In 2021, the "Linden leaf" claimed victory in the "Unique Concept" category in the international coin competition Coin Constellation and ranked the second best in "The Most Original Format Coin" nomination in the international coin and stamp competition Nexofil & Nexonum Award.
Personal Freedom
In 2022, the collector coin "Personal Freedom" became the winner in the "Most Inspirational Coin" nomination in the international coin competition Coin of the Year.
In 2021, this coin shared the third place in the "Silver Coin of the Year" category in the international coin competition Coin Constellation, and ranked the second in the "Best Silver Coin" category in the coin and stamp competition Nexofil & Nexonum Award.
Modernism in Latvia. The 1960s
In 2021, this coin won the first prize in the "Best Coin Design" nomination in the coin and stamp competition Nexofil & Nexonum Award and the first prize in the "Best Artistic Solution" nomination in the international coin competition Coin Constellation.