The Bank of Latvia’s latest commemorative silver coin contains a small piece of amber. The Amber Coin, designed and modeled by Aigars Bikše, celebrates the significance of amber throughout Latvia’s history.

The coin was issued Nov. 15. As noted in the accompanying booklet, Latvian amber comes from a time 40 million years ago when pine resin fossilized, and, since then periodically washes up on the beaches of Latvia.

The proof quality coin has a face value of 1 lat, and has a mintage of 7,000 pieces. The coin has a silver fineness of .925, weighs 20.7 grams, and has a diameter of 35 mm.

So far in 2010, the Bank of Latvia has released silver commemorative coins celebrating Duke Jacob of Courland; the 20th anniversary of the May 14, 1990, declaration of independence; and the Latvian ABC book. Scheduled for release by the end of 2010 is the third “Coin of Time,” containing both silver and niobium.

Commemorative coins can be purchased at all offices of the Bank of Latvia, as well as at certain numismatic shops in Latvia. For further information, visit www.bank.lv.