In honor of the 150^th birthday of Latvian poets Rainis and Aspazija, on September 8 the Bank of Latvia released a silver collector’s coin to celebrate.

The coin, in two detachable parts, features facsimile’s of poetry by Rainis and Aspazija as well as their portraits.

According to the Bank of Latvia website, Rainis (real name Jānis Krišjānis Pliekšāns, 1865–1929) and Aspazija (real name Johanna Emīlija Lizete Rozenberga; as of 1897, Elza Pliekšāne; 1865–1943) “were the most prominent couple in Latvian literature and culture.”

The proof quality coin, with a face value of 5 Euro, has a mintage of 7000 and was minted by UAB Lietuvos monetu kalykla (Lithuania). Arta Ozola-Jaunarāja provided the graphic design and Ligita Franckeviča the plaster model.

For further information, please visit the Bank of Latvia website.