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A 2 euro commemorative coin of the Republic of Latvia, issued on 1 December 2015 in a circulation of 1,000,000 copies. The first in the "Endangered Species of Nature" series, dedicated to the black stork. It was minted at the Lithuanian Mint in Vilnius. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Overse
The center of the coin depicts a black stork - a rare forest bird from Latvia - together with chicks in a nest on a tree. The naturalistic design conveys the delicacy and beauty of this endangered animal. At the top is the name of the bird in Latvian "MELNAIS STĀRĶIS" (Black Stork). At the bottom is the name of the issuing country "LATVIJA" (Latvia) and the year of issue "2015". On the outer ring are the 12 five-pointed stars of the European Union.
Reverse
The reverse is the common side of the 2 euro coins of the second type, designed by Luc Luix (Royal Belgian Mint). It depicts a map of Europe as a single continent without internal borders - a symbol of European unity. On the left is a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right is a map with six thin horizontal lines in the background. On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the European Union. The band is finely fluted and the Latvian inscription "DIEVS ★ SVĒTĪ ★ LATVIJU" (God bless Latvia - the name of the national anthem).
Historical context
The black stork (Ciconia nigra) is a large forest bird of the stork family, distinguished from the white stork by its dark black plumage with a metallic green and purple sheen, as well as its red beak and legs. Unlike the white stork, the black stork is a secretive forest bird that nests in remote, untouched old-growth forests. Its range extends from Europe and North Africa to East Asia. In Latvia, the population has declined significantly due to the reduction of old-growth forests: in the 1980s there were about 1,000 pairs, today there are fewer than 300 pairs. Listed in the Red Book of Latvia (established in 2005). 2015 was the year of two anniversaries: the 10th anniversary of the Red Book of Latvia (since 2005) and the 30th anniversary of the Latvian Ornithological Society (Latvijas Ornitoloģijas biedrība, since 1985). The coin is a call for the protection of rare species and their natural ecosystems.