Latvia has issued a coin containing a small piece of amber. The coin was issued on Nov. 15. The coin has a face value of 1 lat.

France has issued 100 Euro circulating coin. It is being issued at face value hence it can be truly called a circulation coin.

• Mint: Monnaie de Paris
• Denomination: €100
• Quality: Uncirculated
• Issue limit: 50,000 pcs.
• Alloy: 99.9% Fine Gold
• Diameter: 15 mm = 0.59 in
• Weight: 3.10 grams = 0.108 oz

This is the third and last year for an innovative concept: renewing usage of precious metals as circulation coins. This tradition was started in 1960 with the silver 5 Franc coin, and was abandoned with the demise of the Franc.

Distributed in France by the Post Office (La Poste), and sold at face value in order to promote circulation, this series incorporates French monetary tradition and honors the values of sovereignty, nation and citizenship.

Its innovative design unites tradition and modernism: on the obverse “The Sower” - a symbol of French monetary history - is reinterpreted in a contemporary version. Moving for the first time in her history, she evolves in a kinetic manner through the 8 denominations (three in 2010) as she sows stars. On the reverse, a spatial interpretation of the French hexagon surrounding a Euro sign made of branches of oak and laurel.