25 Latu 1928, Latvia
| in Krause book | Number: 18 |
| Years of issue: | 28.09.1929 - 25.03.1941 |
| Edition: | 1000000 for both Serials A and B |
| Signatures: | Padomes priekšsēdētājs: Jūlijs Augusts Celms, Galvenais Direktors: Kārlis Vanags |
| Serie: | Latvijas Bankas |
| Specimen of: | 1928 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 134 х 90 |
| Printer: | Waterlow and Sons Limited, London |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Avers:
The engraving on banknote is, probably, made after this photo by M. Lapins studio, in Riga.
Krišjānis Valdemārs (also spelt Christian Waldemar or Woldemar) (December 2, 1825 - December 7, 1891) was a writer, editor, educator, politician, lexicographer, folklorist and economist, the spiritual leader of the first Latvian National Awakening and the most prominent member of the Young Latvia movement.
In 1864 Valdemārs helped to establish first Latvian naval school in Ainaži. Many other Latvian naval schools was established during next years in the coastal towns of Latvia. It had big influence on local economy and culture because hundreds of Latvian peasant son's had chance to get education for free and becoming captains or steersman's. It led to Age of a sailers in Latvia as active shipbuilding started in coastal towns and villages and those Latvian built, Latvian owned and crewed ships became the first national merchant fleet which even was involved in trans Atlantic voyages.
In lower left corner is a sailing ship, presumably - gaff schooner "Julia Maria". Unfortunately, I could not find the photo of the schooner, so here are the photos of a Latvian silver coin - 10 Latu 1995, from my collection.
The end of XIX century and beginning of the XX century in Latvia was the boom time of a wooden sailing ship constructions. This was facilitated by cheap timber and labor, as well as rich farmers, ship owners, who gain to economic independence. The main types of sailing ships were 2-4 mast schooner. Sailing team mostly consisted of local people - Latvians, who were educated in the so-called "Krišjānis Valdemārs naval colleges" (the first one opened in 1864, in Ainaži). From the XIX century till the second half of the first world war were built around 550 Latvian ships, suited for long sailing voyages.
On banknote is three mast schooner "Julia Maria", which was built by significant Latvian master Martin Morgenstern in 1895. It has length of 35 meters, a width of 8.5 meters, the largest mast height - 31 meter. "Julia Maria" owned by the brothers John and Girts Mucenieki. Its team were: captain, a navigator (sailing master), 4 sailors and a cook. In his 25 years of life "Julia Maria" made several transatlantic voyages and entered: Newport (United Kingdom), Lisbon (Portugal), Vlardingen (Netherlands), Tromso (Norway), Arkhangelsk (Russia), Trinidad (America, West Indies) and other ports. "Julia Maria" died in 1920, in the North Sea.
In lower right corner is a steamer, Latvian icebreaker "Krišjānis Valdemārs".
At the beginning of November 2011, an expedition took place in the Gulf of Finland, during which the wreckage of the pre-war Latvian icebreaker "Krisjanis Valdemars" was identified.
Divers began making expeditions to the ship about three years ago, after it was discovered by an Estonian captain. The wreckage is located about 100 meters deep in the Gulf of Finland, writes LETA.
This year, special underwater robots were sent down to record the wreckage with special equipment, during which the ship was identified as the pre-war Latvian icebreaker "Krisjanis Valdemars".
The "Krisjanis Valdemars" was the only Latvian steamship operating in the 1920's and 1930's. It made its maiden voyage from Riga Port on January 13, 1926.
The icebreaker was used to open up shipping lanes to Riga Port, however, it was also seen as one of the young country's prides and was used to escort the Latvian president and government members on foreign visits.
After Latvia was occupied during WWII the ship was nationalized and was evacuated to Tallinn. In 1941, the "Krisjanis Valdemars" made it final voyage after it was sunk after hitting an underwater mine in the Baltic Sea on August 28, 1941. (www.baltic-course.com)
Lower, right, on background, is the view of old Riga. The photo made in 1928.
View of old Riga, 1929.
Riga, 1929.
Inscription, centered, at the bottom: "Pret so naudas zīme latvijas banka izsniedz 7.25806 gramus zelta. Naudas zīmes nodrošinātas to pilnā nominālvērtībā".
In English: "Against this banknote, the Bank of Latvia issues 7.25806 grams of gold. Banknotes can be exchanged at their full face value."
Denominations in numeral and in words are centered. In numerals in all corners.
Revers:
The image of the golden rising sun with 11 wide wavy rays, between which there were 10 narrow wavy rays, was also placed in the azure upper half of the shield of the State Emblem of the Republic of Latvia, approved on June 16, 1921 by the Constitutional (Constituent) Assembly of Latvia, the draft of which was created by the returnee from Petrograd by the graphic artist Rihards Germanovich Zariņš, together with Vilis Krūmiņš, (the artist himself signed "Zarrinsh" in Russian, Rihards Zariņš, 1869-1939), who until 1917 held the position of technical and artistic director of the Expedition of Preparing State Papers (EZGB ) Of the Russian Empire and the Provisional Government (according to his projects, banknotes and postage stamps of the All-Russian Provisional Government were issued in 1905-1917).
The lower half of the shield of the Latvian coat of arms was cut, in the right silver field was depicted a wormy rebellious lion from the historical coat of arms of Courland and Semigale, symbolizing Kurzeme and Zemgale, and a silver griffin from the historical coat of arms of Livonia, symbolizing Vidzeme and Latgale.
Above the shield, three golden five-pointed stars were depicted in an arc of a circle, touching each other with two rays, symbolizing the unity of the three historical parts of Latvia - Kurzeme and Zemgale, Vidzeme and Latgale. (www.heraldicum.ru .ru)
Denominations in numerals are on the right and left sides. Under the coat of arms in words.
Comments:
I became interested in the question - "Why is the State Treasury (Latvijas valsts kases zime) designated by the issuer on the 10 Lat banknotes, and the Bank of Latvia (Latvijas Bankas) is the issuer on other banknotes?"
I had to start translating the article - in the article the answer to the above question !, in Latvian, I apologize for possible translation errors.
In addition, I, unexpectedly, went to the digitized archive of Latvian periodicals, where I found an article from the Russian-language newspaper Vechernee Vremya, dated November 24, 1924, just on the topic.
Please, read here.
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