The coin looks like a real chestnut, only significantly refined. It is made of 999 silver, has an irregular shape, and the fruit and edge (the rim of the coin) are covered with gold plating. This chestnut weighs 23 grams, and its maximum size is 35 millimeters. The denomination of the coin is only 5 euros. However, it cannot be purchased for that amount: the selling price is 147 euros. The mintage is also small — 3000 pieces. Sales will begin on October 8 at 12:00 exclusively in the online store of the Bank of Latvia e-monetas.lv. No more than three coins will be given to one buyer. The author of the "Chestnut" is the artist Kaspars Lidums. His project won last year in the open competition of the Bank of Latvia for the best design of a commemorative coin on the theme of nature. The novelty was minted not in Latvia, but at the Lithuanian Mint. Why a chestnut? The Bank of Latvia accompanies the release with a whole story. The horse chestnut is actually a newcomer to Latvia. These trees appeared here around the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries and initially grew mainly in estate parks. Later, chestnuts adapted so well that they became a familiar part of the Latvian landscape. They also made their way into culture. A huge chestnut near the home of Latvian writer Edvarts Virza in the Jelgava region is associated with his famous book "Straumeni," where under the tree, hosts and guests celebrate and relax after work. Wilhelm Purvitis even painted a picture called "Blooming Chestnuts" in the early 20th century. But for the new coin, another, much more practical aspect of chestnut fame turned out to be more important. There is an old belief: if you carry a chestnut with you, it protects the owner from troubles and even helps with certain ailments. Moreover, in the Latvian folk version, happiness requires some discipline: women are supposed to keep the chestnut in their left pocket, while men should keep it in their right. This pocket talisman is what the Bank of Latvia decided to turn into a coin. The "Chestnut" is one of four commemorative coins planned by the Bank of Latvia for 2026. The current program also includes coins dedicated to the wedding crown, the "Golden Seed," and the fairy tale characters of Anna Brigadere. Additionally, by the end of the year, a commemorative two-euro coin dedicated to the tradition of Christmas markets in Latvia is expected to be released.
