On Friday, 1 July, the euro area national central banks, including Latvijas Banka, will issue a 2 euro commemorative coin dedicated to the 35th anniversary since the launch of the European Commission's (EC) education and training exchange programme Erasmus.
Please note that the gift packings of the above coins and circulation coin rolls (25 coins per roll) will be available via the e-monetas.lv website only, starting from 12.00 p.m. of 1 July. Mail delivery (only on the territory of Latvia) or personal pickup from Latvijas Banka Cashier's Offices at K. Valdemāra iela 1B, Riga is possible.
To smooth out the customer flow on the premises, each customer will be notified of the date when the order becomes available for pickup from Latvijas Banka Cashier's Offices in the order confirmation. Orders will be available for pickup in a period of 20 business days starting from the date indicated in the order confirmation. There can be no changing of the starting date for the pickup period.
1 July 2022 marks the 35th anniversary since the establishment of the EC Erasmus programme. Erasmus is one of the most popular international exchange programmes in the area of education and training. Since its inception in 1987, around 10 million inhabitants of the European Union (EU) have benefited from it.
The programme covers a wide range of people and provides different learning opportunities. The programme is known as Erasmus+ since 2014, and it encompasses the previous programmes not only in the field of higher education but also in other education sectors (e.g. school, vocational and adult education, youth, sport).
The Erasmus+ programme focuses on individual and group learning mobility, as well as on organisational cooperation that fosters inclusion, excellence, creativity, innovation and sustainability, with particular emphasis on social inclusion and diversity, digital transition, aspects of environmental protection and participation in democratic processes. Particular attention is given to the expanded pool of opportunities offered by the international dimension of higher education.
In 1998, when Latvia became a candidate country for joining the European Union, EU education programmes became operational in Latvia.
On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Erasmus programme, the EC launched a design competition for the national side of the 2 euro commemorative coin. 22 thousand votes out of around 70 thousand votes received during a public vote were cast in favour of the design created by French artist Joaquin Jimenez. This design will be featured on the national side of the 2 euro commemorative coin dedicated to the Erasmus 35th anniversary.
On 1 July 2022, Latvijas Banka will also issue the 2 euro commemorative coin "ERASMUS 35"
The author of the common side of the coin is artist Luc Luycxnez, and the material and size of the coin are the same as those of other 2 euro circulation coins. The name of the country (LATVIJA) and the year of issue are also featured on the coin. The coin has been struck by UAB Lietuvos monetų kalykla (Lithuania).
The total mintage of circulation quality or coins in rolls for the "ERASMUS 35" coins is 300 000 pieces, whereas the maximum mintage of Brilliant Uncirculated quality coins in gift packing is 8000 pieces. The price per coin in gift packing is 8.80 euro. To make these coins accessible to as many people as possible, the limit per purchase has been set at 3 gift packings and 1 roll.
Each year, every euro area country is entitled to issue two 2 euro commemorative coins of special design, as well as one more commemorative coin within a joint programme of several euro area countries provided that such a programme is organised.
Latvijas Banka continues the tradition of minting circulation coins of special design in Latvia. Euro commemorative coins are legal tender in the Republic of Latvia and other euro area countries.