5 lats coin and freedom. The coin was designed by Rihards Zariņš. The image of the maiden on the coin is colloquially known as Milda (a Latvian female name). The model was Zelma Brauere (1900-1977), a proofreader of the State Securities Printing House. She served as a model for other works of the artist, including the 10 lats and 20 lats banknotes and the 50 santīmi coin. In 1939, the Latvian government prepared to mint new 5 lats coins to be issued in 1941. The Latvian maiden was to be replaced by a portrait of the authoritarian leader of Latvia, Kārlis Ulmanis. Those
Phoenix (currency) Phoenix (currency) The phoenix (, "foinix") was the first currency of the modern Greek state. It was introduced in 1828 by Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias and was subdivided into 100 "lepta". The name was that of the mythical phoenix bird and was meant to symbolize the rebirth of Greece during the still ongoing Greek War of Independence. The "phoenix" replaced the Ottoman "kuruş" (called "grosi" γρόσι, plural γρόσια "grosia" by the Greeks) at a rate of 6 phoenixes = 1 "kuruş". The creation of a national currency was one of the most pressing issues for the newborn Greek state, so that