Obverse: the obverse of the coin depicts the coat of arms of the Republic of Latvia, supported by a lion and a griffin. Above the shield are three stars symbolizing the historical regions of Latvia. Around the coin appears the inscription “LATVIJAS REPUBLIKA”, while the year “1997” is shown below.
Reverse: the reverse features the 17th century frigate “Gerkens” sailing at sea. At the top is the inscription “FREGATE GERKENS”, on the right side the year “1642”, and at the bottom the denomination “20 LATU”.
About the coin: this gold 20 lati coin was issued in Latvia in 1997 and is dedicated to the historic frigate “Gerkens”. The ship symbolizes Latvia’s maritime trade history and the seafaring traditions of Courland and Livonia. The coin is admired for its detailed relief and is highly valued by collectors and enthusiasts of Baltic history.
