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A 2 euro commemorative coin of the Republic of Latvia, issued in 2017 in a circulation of 530,000 copies. The second in the series "Historical Regions of Latvia", dedicated to Kurzeme. It was minted at the Lithuanian Mint in Vilnius. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Obverse
In the center of the coin is the coat of arms of Kurzeme (Kurzemes ģerbonis) - a historical heraldic sign of the region with a mythological lion in a crown, symbolizing the strength, royal dignity and strategic location of the region. At the top is the name of the region "KURZEME". At the bottom is the name of the issuing country "LATVIJA" and the year "2017". The outer ring of the coin features 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 with a thin groove and the Latvian inscription "DIEVS ★ SVĒTĪ ★ LATVIJU" (God bless Latvia - the name of the national anthem).
Historical context
Kurzeme (or Courland) is one of the four historical and cultural regions of Latvia, located in the western part of the country on the coast of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga. The area is about 13,000 km². The main cities are Liepaja (the third most populous city in Latvia), Ventspils (an important Baltic port), Kuldiga, Talsi, Saldus. Historically, it was the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (Kurzemes un Zemgales hercogiste, 1561-1795) - a semi-independent state entity, initially under Polish-Lithuanian suzerainty. In the 17th century. Under the rule of Duke Jacob (1642-1682) it flourished, even having colonies in Tobago (Caribbean Sea) and Gambia (West Africa). Since 1795 - within the Russian Empire as the Courland Province. The coat of arms of Kurzeme with a lion in a crown comes from this duchy. Natural landscape: Baltic coast, sandy beaches, Kuldiga with the Ventskie rapids - the widest waterfall in Europe. Architectural monuments: Jelgava Castle, Rudenka Castle.