Ukraine Sunflower

The design represents a sunflower, which is one of the national symbols of Ukraine, as Ukraine is one of the biggest sunflower oil producers and exporters worldwide. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the sunflower has become a global symbol for peace. For the first time sunflowers were used as a peace symbol in the summer of 1996. Then they were planted in a military base near Pervomaysk, approximately 155 miles south of the capital Kyiv. Now sunflowers are used as a symbol of peace and support to Ukraine worldwide. At the top, in semi-circle, is the inscription ‘SLAVA UKRAINAI!’ (Glory to Ukraine) and at the bottom, in semi-circle, is the name of the issuing country ‘LATVIJA’ followed by the year of issuance ‘2023’. The author of the design is the Latvian artist Krišs Salmanis. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.