Fight for Freedom

State, the fourth series of the largest national collector coin programme Latvia. Times and Values, tells the story of Latvia rising from obscurity, then suffering through a dark era to re-emerge once again free. 

Despite the Baltic territory being ruled by invaders since the 13th century, the Latvians succeeded in consolidating into a nation. During the revolution of 1905, which shook the Russian empire, every attempt was made to erase national consciousness from Latvians' minds. 

Then World War I broke out and out of its devastating aftermath a heavenly miracle was born – the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia on 18 November 1918. While in exile, the Latvian poet Rainis wrote a lyrical ballad Daugava, dedicating it to the nation's newly won statehood. The song Both Sides of the River Daugava rang through the country as a hymn of dawn. Latvian soldiers started wearing the insignia of the national army, which featured a rising sun with rays radiating from it like so many shiny swords. Poorly armed and thinly clad, they won the battle over the outnumbering enemy on 11 November 1919. Russia relinquished all claims to the Latvian land and people in perpetuity. Like a silvery blossom, an illustrious image of a new country well-settled in the stony lap of the Earth becomes evident in the depth of the Universe.