2016-05-13 Fri

Bank of Latvia issued a new 5-euro silver collector coin called the Fairy Tale Coin II. Hedgehog’s Coat on 19th April. The release is a part of a special series dedicated to some of the most loved Latvian fairy tales. Last year, the first coin of this series featured five cats.

Artist and children’s book illustrator Gundega Muzikante, for the first time was involved in coin art. The obverse of this unique oval shaped Lithuanian Mint coin features a princess carrying a hedgehog in her apron. The reverse shows a herd of swine, a hedgehog, and an ethnographic building.

The hedgehog represents wisdom, diligence, kind-heartedness. The fairy tale is included in the Ride with the Sun II where the puny hedgehog marries a princess and turns into a stately prince. A lengthy poem version of the fairy tale was written in 1921 by Vilis Pl?dons and recorded by the actress Anta Klints.

In 2012, Bank of Latvia released coins with a hedgehog on its reverse. The latest one depicts the protagonist “Hedgehog’s Coat”.

The coin is legal tender in the Republic of Latvia and the maximum mintage is limited to 10,000. The coin can be purchased for 39 euro.

Information about the collector coins is available at https://monetas.bank.lv/en/coins-for-sale.