The large coat of arms of the Republic of Latvia, with the year 2018 inscribed beneath, is placed in the centre. The inscription "Republic of Latvia", arranged in a semicircle, is above the central motif. The inscription EURO, topped with the numeral 5, are placed beneath the central motif.

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. The red lion and silver griffin are also used as Supporters.
• Base of the coat of arms is decorated with the branches of an oak tree, Quercus robur, which is one of Latvian national symbols.

Depicts a drawing of a smiling sun with the inscription "May Latvia live and prosper forever" to the right.

Over 10 000 drawings were presented to the children's open coin design contest. Due to subtly nuanced presentations, the works of 19 young authors were selected for awards, while the winner was 10-year old schoolgirl Elizabete Kandere, a girl from the County of Grobiņa. It was her drawing of the Sun that was made into the design of the new euro coin because of its charming optimism and buoyancy.

Similar practice of children's competitions and incorporation of their drawings in coin designs is spreading in many world countries, e.g. Estonia, Bulgaria, Malta and elsewhere. The concept "children's drawing" was introduced in 1890 by Franz Čižek (1865–1946), an Austrian painter, art teacher and reformer of education of Check origin.

The inscriptions LATVIJAS BANKA and LATVIJAS REPUBLIKA (Republic of Latvia), separated by rhombic dots.