The third series People of the largest national collector coin program Latvia. Times and Values is dedicated to the spiritual molders of the Latvian nation.
The reverse of the coin bears the inscription Latvji, brauciet jurina! (Latvians, venture to distant seas!), words by Krisjanis Valdemars (1825-1891) heralding the Latvian cultural and economic awakening. The sea is an often employed symbol in dainas - Latvian folk songs that have played a prominent role in shaping Latvia's national identity. The pragmatism of Valdemars was an essential contribution to the New Latvians (Jaunlatviesi) movement. He inspired Latvians to engage in business because he saw national emancipation as stemming from national wealth. He devoted particular attention to seafaring and succeeded in winning a legal basis for establishing a democratic network of naval colleges thus enabling the Latvian peasants to become seamen. By the end of the 19th century, about 3 000 captains, helmsmen and ship engineers had graduated from the Latvian naval colleges. They founded Latvian associations of ship owners and even took to building seagoing ships.
The obverse features the waves on the sea that, to borrow from the dainas, are sifting gold and silver. The sea is a source of prosperity. Latvia is a sea nation.