Obverse: Features a stylised acanthus-leaf ornament based on the wood carvings from the side section of the altar of Lestene Church. The inscriptions “LATVIJA 2013” appear on the left, with the face value “1 LATS” below.
Reverse: Features the head of an angel with outstretched wings from the altar of Lestene Church. The Latvian inscription “AK, SVĒTĀ LESTENE!” (“Oh, Holy Lestene!”) appears above.
About the coin: In 2013, the Bank of Latvia issued this gold collector coin, “Ak, svētā Lestene!”, in honour of Lestene Church and its exceptional heritage of Courland Baroque art. In the early 18th century, the church interior was decorated with Baroque wood carvings created by the renowned woodcarver Nikolaus Söffrens the Younger. The coin was designed by Laimonis Šēnbergs, with the plaster model created by Ligita Franckeviča. It was struck at the Lithuanian Mint from .9999 fine gold, weighs 1.2442 g, measures 13.92 mm in diameter, has a Proof finish and a maximum mintage of 5,000 pieces.
