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Latvian lats

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Code
  
LVL

Symbol
  
Ls (before numerals)

1/100
  
santīms

santīms
  
s (after numerals)

Latvian lats

Plural
  
lati (nom. pl.) or latu (gen. pl.)

santīms
  
santīmi (nom. pl.) or santīmu (gen. pl.)

The lats (plural: lati (2–9) latu (10 and more)), ISO 4217 currency code: LVL or 428) was the currency of Latvia until it was replaced by the euro on 1 January 2014. A two-week transition period during which the lats was in circulation alongside the euro ended on 14 January 2014. It is abbreviated as Ls and was subdivided into 100 santīmi (singular: santīms; from French centime).

Contents

First lats, 1922–1940

The lats was first introduced in 1922, replacing the Latvian rublis at a rate of 1 lats = 50 rubļi. In 1940, Latvia was occupied by the USSR and the lats was replaced by the Soviet ruble at par.

Coins

Coins were issued in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 santīmu, 1, 2 and 5 lati. The 1, 2 and 5 santīmu were in bronze, the 10, 20 and 50 santīmu were nickel, while coins of 1 lats and above were in silver.

Banknotes

The Latvian Bank issued notes from 1922 in denominations of 20, 25, 50, 100 and 500 latu. They also issued 10 latu notes which were 500 rubli notes overprinted with the new denomination. The government issued currency notes from 1925 in denominations of 5, 10 and 20 latu.

Second lats, 1992–2013

The lats was reintroduced in 1992, replacing the Latvian rublis, which was used for a short period after Latvia regained its independence, at a rate of 1 lats = 200 rubļu.

Coins

Coins were issued in denominations of 1 santīms, 2 and 5 santīmi, 10, 20 and 50 santīmu, 1 lats and 2 lati. Besides standard coins in the list below and coins for collectors, there were a number of coins that were issued only once and were rarely found in circulation – three commemorative circulation coins in denominations of 2, 10 and 100 latu (the later two of which were, respectively, silver and gold), a 100 lats gold bullion coin, a standard issue 2 lats coin that was gradually taken out of circulation starting from 1999 due to safety issues and a series of limited design 1 lats coins that were issued twice a year from 2004 to 2013, and once in 2001 and 2003. The standard coins were designed by Gunārs Lūsis and Jānis Strupulis.

Banknotes

All banknotes were 130 × 65 mm in size.

The lats was the fourth-highest-valued currency unit after the Kuwaiti dinar, Bahraini dinar, and the Omani rial at the end of its circulation. The 500 lats note was the world's third most valuable banknote after the $10,000 Singapore note and the 1,000 Swiss franc note.

References

Latvian lats Wikipedia


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