On Tuesday, 28 March, Latvijas Banka issued a new silver collector coin "Fairy Tale Coin III. The Old Man's Mitten".

 

This is the third collector coin in the series "Fairy Tale Coins", which is dedicated to Latvian fairy tales, so much loved and cherished. The first two coins in this series were "Fairy Tale Coin I. Five Cats", issued in 2015, and "Fairy Tale Coin II. The Hedgehog's Coat", issued in 2016.

 

The coin celebrates fairy tale about an old man's mitten, with its message being communicated through a seemingly funny and innocent yet somewhat sadly-ending story. The lesson of wise living is presented in a metaphorical form: in the name of universal happiness, every human being must learn to include all living things in the circle of their respect, compassion and empathy, to lend a helping hand to the miserable, to support and to assist.

 

The author of the coin's graphic design is artist Arvīds Priedīte, and this is his 14th collector coin design. The plaster model has been made by Jānis Strupulis, co-author of many collector coins.

 

The collector coin "Fairy Tale Coin III. The Old Man's Mitten" has been struck by UAB Lietuvos monetų kalykla (Lithuania). The obverse shows a patterned colourful mitten, with the lower parts of a bear and a wolf protruding from it; featured on the obverse are also a fly, a rabbit and a mouse. The reverse of the coin bears the images of fairy tale heroes bear, wolf, mouse and rabbit joining in a jolly dance and a fly fluttering in between them.

 

The collector coin "Fairy Tale Coin III. The Old Man's Mitten" is legal tender in the Republic of Latvia, yet its release in circulation is unlikely, for by nature collector coins are works of art, enjoying high demand from the numismatic community and other interested parties. The coin's maximum mintage is limited to 10 000.