2015-12-10 Thu

On December 8th 2015, the Bank of Latvia issued a new €5 silver collector coin to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the appearance of the Livonian Ferding. The coin marks the anniversary of a significant historic event and the currency unit of Latvia – the Livonian Ferding. Although the coin is not exactly in circulation, it is empowered to promote national distinction and is celebrated for being independent of the European Monetary System. The obverse of the coin is a replica of the Ferding struck in 1515 CE. It depicts the Coat of Arms of Riga Archbishop, Jasper Linde, and Master of the Livonian Order, Wolter von Plettenberg, along with a few elements of the Livonian Order Cross. The reverse of the coin is also a replica of the reverse of the one minted in 1515. It depicts an image of the Virgin Mary standing with a child in her right hand and a sceptre in the left. The outer ring on the obverse reads the inscription ‘Latvija’ and ‘5 Euros’ and the ones on the reverse read ‘2015’, ‘Verdinam’, and ‘500’.