Baltic States – CIS, Banks, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Latvia

The "Lucky Coin" was created by artists Arvids Priedite and Janis Strupulis, while the "Latvian Coin" was created, using sketches made by Teodors Zalkans in 1922.

The silver "Lucky Coin" was minted in Finland in 2008. On the obverse, with the background of city roofs, there is a cat. On the reverse, against the background of rooftops, in the center a chimney-sweep is holding a ladder, a coil of rope and a brush with weight in his hands. It is considered that meeting a chimney-sweep brings you a good luck.

The golden "Latvian Coin" in its turn was minted in Austria, on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Latvia, and marking 15 years of existence of the renewed Latvian national currency – the lat. The coin depicts images of a mother, a loaf of bread and a simple countryside meal.

Altogether 176 coins from 21 countries participated in the competition, organized by the "Watermark Publishing House".

The awards ceremony took place at the Hermitage Museum in Russia's St. Petersburg.