The Bank of Latvia has released the first Euro denominated Latvian collector’s coin, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Ainaži Nautical School.

According to the Bank of Latvia website, the Ainaži Nautical School was inspired by Krišjānis Valdemārs and poet Auseklis, who wrote “Latvji, braucat jūriņā ..” (Go to sea, Latvians…). The first Latvian and Estonian nautical school was founded on November 23, 1864. The school was also involved in shipbuilding, as by the end of the 19th century, 50 sailing ships had been built in Ainaži.

The proof quality silver coin has a mintage of 5000, and has a face value of 5 Euro. The coin’s artist is Ivars Drulle.

In 2014, the Bank of Latvia also plans on releasing the following collector’s coins with the following themes:

-“The White Book” by Latvian writer Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš

-The 300th anniversary of Gothard Friedrich Stenders (Old Stenders)

-The Baroque style and art in Courland (Kurzeme)

-The 25th anniversary of the Baltic Way

-Innovative artistic, technological or thematic concepts

For further information, please visit the Bank of Latvia’s website at http://www.bank.lv