On 23 September 2024, Latvijas Banka announced the launch of the “Energy Coin,” a collector coin set to be issued on 26th September 2024. The coin is dedicated to the theme of science, specifically highlighting the role of nuclear fusion as a potential solution for the future of global energy. This project has the potential to reshape the world’s energy landscape by offering a solution that not only preserves natural resources but also achieves a balance between the energy demands of the present and the environmental needs of future generations. The coin focuses on the principles of nuclear fusion, a process in which lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing enormous amounts of energy. The Energy Coin aims to symbolize the quest for an inexhaustible energy source that balances modern-day demands with the need to preserve natural resources for future generations. This silver collector coin creatively illustrates the process of nuclear fusion, a powerful reaction that fuels the Sun, for the scientific efforts to replicate this energy source on Earth.
The Energy Coin has been meticulously designed by the internationally acclaimed artist Germans Ermičs, in collaboration with scientists, to depict the fundamental physics that enable the fusion of hydrogen nuclei. The design artfully captures the essence of this process, with representations of the elementary particles involved in nuclear fusion. Gold-plated beads on the coin represent protons, while silver hollows stand for neutrons. These particles are essential to the fusion process that begins with hydrogen and results in helium and free neutrons. The intricate lines etched into the coin resemble magnetic fields, which are used in fusion reactors to contain the plasma where fusion reactions occur. The coin’s relief features a recessed center symbolizing gravitational forces near stars or black holes, further tying its design to the astronomical phenomena that naturally produce nuclear fusion.
Nuclear fusion is heralded as one of the greatest challenges and potential breakthroughs of modern science, offering virtually limitless energy with minimal environmental impact. The Energy Coin reflects this promise, drawing attention to the extensive research and engineering efforts aimed at harnessing fusion energy on Earth. Scientists across the globe, including those from Latvia, are involved in collaborative projects like ITER and DEMO, working on prototypes of the world’s largest nuclear fusion reactors. These reactors aim to replicate the fusion processes that fuel stars, but require extreme conditions, such as temperatures of millions of degrees and immense pressure to sustain. The scientific pursuit of fusion energy, likened to the mythological task of Prometheus bringing fire from the heavens, is honored through the release of this collector coin.
To celebrate the issuance of the Energy Coin, the University of Latvia and Latvijas Banka will jointly host an event on 26 September 2024. The event, titled “How to Tame the Energy of the Future,” will feature a lecture by Bertrand Roques, a researcher involved in Europe’s largest nuclear fusion experiment project, ITER. The artist behind the coin, Germans Ermičs, will also speak about the creative process involved in developing the coin’s design. The event will conclude with an expert discussion, moderated by Professor Vjačeslavs Kaščejevs, a quantum physicist from the University of Latvia, addressing the future of nuclear fusion in Latvia and the intersection of science and art. This event will take place at the House of Nature of the University of Latvia in Riga and is free to attend.
The Energy Coin will be available for purchase exclusively on the website e-monetas.lv starting at 12:00 PM on 26 September 2024. The coin is priced at 77.00 euros and has a limited mintage of 3,000 units, with a maximum purchase limit of three coins per buyer. The coin was struck by the Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in the Netherlands, and its issuance honors the ongoing efforts of Latvian scientists contributing to the global pursuit of sustainable energy solutions through nuclear fusion research.
