5 Euro

2015Collector

KM# 170

Metal
Silver .925
With multi-colored print
Weight
31.47 g
Fine weight
Fine 0.94 g
Diameter
38.61 mm
Shape
Round
Alignment
Medal 0°
Technique
Milled · Coloured

Details

Value: 5 Euro

= 500 Euro Cent

Type: Collector

Subject: Latvia Fairy Tales - Five Cats

Notes

Latvians have always loved fairy tales with their message encouraging kindness and the virtue of diligence. Evil is also present, yet the good always wins. This traditional heritage contains the code of folk wisdom, philosophy and ethics; some scenario is always played out and a piece of useful advice given as part of emotional and moral education. The Latvian fairy tale about the five cats is one of those which parents tend to read to their children as a bedtime story and which they are always asked to read again. The cats are engaged in a very practical activity: "Five cats went to the forest to cut firewood. They cut and cut, but ended up with nothing. Tails raised they came back home. They came back home and looked around, but there really was no firewood at all. They went to the forest again and came back with a log each: one log was short, another small, the third was neither. Finally, all five of them started the fire, made some porridge and devoured it greedily. They ate so much that they could hardly walk and decided to just go to sleep. Let's go and look whether they may be still asleep.". The Latvian children's book writer Vilma Delle (1892–1980) turned this fairy tale into sweet and slightly comical verse. Her poem "Five Cats", with its romantic and sympathetic atmosphere reminiscent of Kārlis Skalbe's "Pussy's Watermill" tale, was first published in the youth magazine "Jaunības Tekas" in 1920, and the narrative begins as follows "Five cats once had a thought: A pot of porridge would be good. We've got milk, a pot's been brought – Just have to cut some firewood." After all their trouble getting the firewood, they got their reward, for, according to folk wisdom, one's well-being is based on using one's smarts, resourcefulness and diligence: "Presently they cooked their meal, There was food enough for all: They ate and ate with so much zeal That their bellies looked like balls." The version of "Five Cats" by poet and artist Alberts Kronenbergs (1887–1958) was published in the children's magazine "Bērnība" in 1949, and there the cats are shown as quarrelsome creatures that cannot come to any agreement about working together and getting the firewood. The series of Latvijas Banka's fairy tale coins is launched by the 5 euro collector coin "Five Cats". The design by artist Anita Paegle is suggestive of familial cosiness, warmth and well-being which can be achieved by good work. Date of issue 25-11-2015 Fairy tale coin I. Five cats Brochure

Obverse

Cat with porridge in color bowl, denomination above

Legend

2015

Muris • Ņuris • Incis • Mincis • Puncis

DesignerDesigner: Jānis Strupulis, Anita Paegle

Reverse

Five cats in bed under colored blanket

Legend

English

KAĶI 5 EURO

Cats 5 euro

Edge

TypeType: Inscriptions LATVIJAS BANKA and LATVIJAS REPUBLIKA (Republic of Latvia), separated by rhombic dots

Legend

English

LATVIJAS BANKA ♦ LATVIJAS REPUBLIKA ♦

Bank of Latvia ♦ Republic of Latvia ♦

Issues

Year	Mintage	Type	Proof
		Proof

2015 Lithuanian MintProof
Mintage
Proof price €130, no grade