Obverse. 1928: Great Britain - no mintmark. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1 Santims 1922-1935, KM# 1, Latvia, 1928: Great Britain - no mintmark
  • 1 Santims 1922-1935, KM# 1, Latvia
  • 1 Santims 1922-1935, KM# 1, Latvia, 1924: Huguenin Frères & Cie - HUGUENIN below ribbon
Description

Coins produced by Huguenin Frères & Cie (Le Locle, Switzerland) display the mint name positioned below the ribbon on the obverse, while those minted in Great Britain lack such identification.

Notably, on the 1922 coins, the designer's name is recorded as “R ZARRIŅŠ”, whereas in subsequent years, it appears as “R ZARRINS” without diacritics.

The intended mintage for 1924 was 5,000,000 coins, but due to the loss of one bag with 10,000 coins during transportation, the mint provided compensation for the shortfall in cash.

The weight of the 1922 coins was established at 1.6 g, while all following years retained a weight of 1.8 g, as indicated by the official government directives for the 1922 and 1924 coins.

Engraver: Rihards Zariņš

Obverse

The small coat of arms of the Republic of Latvia above ribbon.

The Latvian national coat of arms was designed by the Latvian artist Rihards Zariņš. It combines symbols of Latvian national statehood, as well as symbols of its ancient historical districts:

- The three golden stars above the field represent three historical provinces: Vidzeme (Swedish Livonia), Latgale (Polish Livonia) and Kurzeme-Zemgale (Duchy of Courland and Semigalia).
- The golden sun in the field represents the sun of freedom. Sun symbol was used as a symbol of distinction and national identity by the Imperial Russian Army's Latvian Riflemen units during World War I. During the war, the sun was fashioned with 17 rays that symbolized the 17 Latvian inhabited districts.
- The bottom part of escutcheon is divided into two fieds where the red lion of Courland represents Kurzeme and Zemgale while the silver griffin of Polish Livionia represents Vidzeme and Latgale.

LATVIJA

Reverse

Value and date.

1
Santims
1928
R. ZARRINS

Edge

1 Santims

1st Republic
KM# 1 Schön# 1
Characteristics
Material Bronze
Weight 1.8 g
Diameter 17 mm
Thickness 1 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mints
Heaton Mint, Birmingham (H)
Huguenin Frères & Cie (HF)
Kings Norton Metal Company, Birmingham (KN)
Royal Mint

Related coins

Copper Plated Steel, 2.3 g, ⌀ 16.25 mm

Copper Plated Steel, 3.06 g, ⌀ 18.75 mm

Copper Plated Steel, 3.92 g, ⌀ 21.25 mm