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1 Lats Amber Coin
| Issuer | Bank of Latvia |
|---|---|
| Year | 2010 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | 35 mm |
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| Obverse description | The obverse features a highly textured, sculptural field evoking an abstract natural landscape, likely referencing the Baltic seashore from which amber is harvested. At center, a polished cabochon of genuine natural amber is set flush into the coin's surface, serving as the focal design element. The denomination '1 LATS' is incused to the upper left of the field, while the legend 'LATVIJAS REPUBLIKA' and the date '2010' are inscribed along the lower periphery in Latin script. The entire surface is rendered in a matte proof finish, contrasting with the warm honey-orange translucency of the amber inset. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse depicts a bold, stylized design of a human eye rendered in high relief against a heavily textured, granular field. The eye motif is composed of an almond-shaped outline with radiating lash-like incised lines projecting from both the upper and lower lids, creating a striking, almost primitive artistic effect. At the center of the eye, a polished natural amber cabochon is inset, serving as the iris and imparting a vivid golden-orange accent to the silver composition. The field surrounding the eye is uniformly textured, adding depth and contrast to the sculptural design. No legends or inscriptions appear on this face. |
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| Additional information |
Latvia's amber coin program began as a genuine technical puzzle: embedding natural Baltic amber into a struck silver planchet without cracking the inclusion or compromising the die. The Bank of Latvia solved it by setting pre-shaped amber cabochons into a recessed cavity after striking, a process requiring individual hand-finishing for each coin. No two pieces are quite identical, since the amber itself — sourced from deposits along the Baltic coast — varies in color and translucency.
The 2010 issue was the first in the series, limited to 30,000 pieces.