Latvia's first independent coinage series, launched in 1922, was itself a political act — the young republic had declared independence from both German occupation and Soviet incursion just three years earlier, and establishing a national currency was as much about asserting statehood as facilitating commerce. The santims denominations were struck at the British Royal Mint under contract, Latvia lacking domestic minting capacity at the time.
Production ran intermittently across thirteen years, with most circulation strikes dating to the early 1930s.
Latvia's first independent coinage series, launched in 1922, was itself a political act — the young republic had declared independence from both German occupation and Soviet incursion just three years earlier, and establishing a national currency was as much about asserting statehood as facilitating commerce. The santims denominations were struck at the British Royal Mint under contract, Latvia lacking domestic minting capacity at the time.
Production ran intermittently across thirteen years, with most circulation strikes dating to the early 1930s.