I found this news about a Latvian Lucky Coin won an award in the Third International Commemorative Coins Contest "Coin Constrellation-2009" last month. The "Lucky Coin" won the title "Silver Coin of the Year"award. Altogether 176 coins from 21 countries participated in the competition, organized by the "Watermark Publishing House". The awards ceremony took place at the Hermitage Museum in Russia's St. Petersburg. The silver "Lucky Coin" was minted in Finland in 2008.
Obverse: A cat in the centre is featured against the background of roofs of a city. The inscription LATVIJAS REPUBLIKA is arranged in a semicircle at the top; the numeral 1 is placed in the lower part, and beneath it, the inscription LATS is arranged in a semicircle.
Reverse: Against the background of rooftops, in the centre a chimney-sweep is holding a ladder in his right hand and a coil of rope and a brush with weight in his left hand. A cat and inscription 2008 are placed lower centre.
Edge: Two inscriptions LATVIJAS BANKA (Bank of Latvia), separated by rhombic dots.
The coin called Lucky Coin because it is considered that meeting a chimney-sweep brings you a good luck. When people unexpectedly see a chimney-sweep walking down the street, they think of a wish and rub a black button for all their yearnings and desires to come true. Now and then, chimney-sweeps are even invited to weddings - as an assurance that the new family will be blessed with love, harmony, prosperity, and a flock of healthy children.
As it is not so easy anymore to meet a chimney-sweep on everyday basis, we can rub this coin featuring the sooty man proudly poised on the chimney-top surveying the city, with a cat, that tireless roof-roamer, and a sweeping wind his only companions. If you believe in miracles, the lucky button trick should work: bring good fortune to your home, and fulfil all your secret desires.
As it is not so easy anymore to meet a chimney-sweep on everyday basis, we can rub this coin featuring the sooty man proudly poised on the chimney-top surveying the city, with a cat, that tireless roof-roamer, and a sweeping wind his only companions. If you believe in miracles, the lucky button trick should work: bring good fortune to your home, and fulfil all your secret desires.
Face value: 1 lats
Weight: 22.00 g, diameter: 35.00 mm
Metal: silver of .925 fineness, quality: proof
Struck in 2008 by Rahapaja Oy (Finland)
Artists: Arvids Priedite (graphic design), Janis Strupulis (plaster model)
Source: www.baltic-course.com, wikipedia
