The Republic of Latvia was born on the ruins of empires that had collapsed as a result of World War I. It took more than one and a half years for the people of Latvia to defend the newly acquired freedom and defeat external and internal enemies with weapons in hands. The military and political fight demonstrated the political maturity of the Latvian nation, its selflessness and the right to live in independent, democratic and free Latvia.
One of the most significant and complicated stages in the history of Latvia was the period between the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia on 18 November 1918 and the signing of the Peace Treaty with the Soviet Russia on 11 August 1920. This period is known today as the Latvian War of Independence. The name is relatively new, and it reflects the nature of the particular historical process in a concise manner, i.e. the Latvian people's fight for the existence and independence of its national state.
Various names, i.e. the "Liberation War" as well as the emotional "Freedom Fights" and "Freedom War", were also used by Latvian society between the two world wars to describe the military and political developments of 1918–1920. They are still in use, and they have taken root in the people's historical consciousness. Regardless of the different names, they all symbolise one concept – the Latvian nation's fight for its freedom, independence and statehood in 1918–1920.
The graphic design and plaster model of the collector coin "Freedom Fights (1918–1920)" have been created by artist Andris Vārpa. A stylised march of fighters depicted in the Cubist manner and a soldier bidding farewell to his fiancée are featured on the obverse. The red-white-red flag of Latvia with broken entrenchment barriers on each of its sides is depicted on the reverse. The coin is minted from silver, using a two-colour print to feature the flag.
Starting from 8.30 a.m. on 7 November, the new coin will be on sale online via e-monetas.lv, Latvijas Banka's website for purchases of collector coins and other numismatic products, and at the Cashier's Offices of Latvijas Banka at K. Valdemāra iela 1B in Riga and Teātra iela 3 in Liepāja. The building of Latvijas Banka in Riga will be open and the tickets from the queue regulator facility will be available from 7 a.m. The price of the coin at the Cashier's Offices of Latvijas Banka and via e-monetas.lv is 50.00 euro; the purchase limit for one buyer will be 2 coins. The maximum mintage of the coin is limited to 4 000. At this stage, only part of it has been minted, i.e. 3000 coins will be released on sale on 7 November. The coin has been struck by UAB Lietuvos monetų kalykla (Lithuania).
The collector coin "Freedom Fights (1918–1920)" is legal tender in the Republic of Latvia, yet the release of such coins in circulation is highly unlikely, as they are in fact works of art and are in special demand among coin collectors and other interested parties.
