Latvia · Regions series: Kurzeme Region

Kurzeme, in German Kurland, is located in western Latvia between the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga (Rigaischen Meerbusen). The region encompasses a long coastline as well as the port cities of Liepāja and Ventspils. It is one of the historical regions that make up the Latvian state. However, its borders do not fully correspond to today’s administrative territories.

In the Middle Ages, the area initially came under the influence of the Livonian Order and the Bishopric of Courland (Bistums Kurland). Following the dissolution of the Livonian Confederation, the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (Herzogtum Kurland und Semgallen) was established in 1561. It was a fief of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was ruled by the Kettler dynasty. In the 17th century, the duchy developed trade and shipbuilding; for a time, its ports also maintained overseas outposts in West Africa and on Tobago. In 1795, the duchy became part of the Russian Empire in the course of the Partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Since the establishment of the Republic of Latvia, Kurzeme has belonged to Latvian territory.

The region’s heraldic animal is a red lion on a silver background. The lion derives from the heraldry of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (Herzogtum Kurland und Semgallen). In Latvia’s national coat of arms, a red lion also represents the western regions of Kurzeme and Zemgale. Thus, the coin design refers not only to a region but also to its historical state and heraldic tradition.

The issue belonged to a Latvian coin series about the country’s historical and cultural regions. In addition to Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Latgale and Zemgale were represented with their own designs. The series was connected with the centenary of the Republic of Latvia, commemorated in 2018. By depicting the individual regions, the series highlighted that Latvian statehood developed from regions with different historical experiences and regional identities.