Until 2014 when Latvia joined the Euro area, its currency was the Latts. The Latts came into being in 1922, four years after Latvia became an independent state. The 5 Latts silver coin featuring a profile of a young woman was the most popular coin in the 30s of the previous century. Now the same profile adorns the Latvian 1 Euro and 2 Euro coins. Meald, that is what we nickname the young woman and consequently the coin. She's not a goddess, she's not a queen. Neither is she an MP or a minister. In fact her name is not Meald either. Her name is Zalma. Who is this woman we see on the Latvian Euro coin? In 1929 the Latvian government decided to issue a silver 5 Latts coin and resolved that there should be a head of a maiden, symbolizing Latvian statehood and freedom on it. Women generally play an essential role in Latvian culture. One of the central deities in Latvian mythology is Mata, Mother Earth. She takes care of the entire material world. The country named Latvia also is an out of feminine gender and the nation honors Latvia as Mother. The design of the coin was created by the graphic artist Erichertz Zadinj, manager of the state securities printing house in Riga. Zadinj had successfully designed paper money and postage stamps in Sarastrasia and continued his activities also in Latvia when it became independent. Zalma Broward, a proofreader of securities printing house caught the attention of 50 year old Zadinj. She was 20, beautiful, earnest, reserved and very reliable. She knew six foreign languages. He invited her to sit as a model for his works. Her image was featured in the design of two of the Latz banknotes and the 5 Latts silver coin so dearly loved by the people. Zalma's profile on the 5 Latts coin differs somewhat from the design created by Zadinj. The designers of the British Royal Mint changed Zalma's features slightly to add a more noble touch to the profile. Today, nobody remembers how and why the silver 5 Lat coin was nicknamed Milden. Zalma Broward liked the coin. She presented the coin to her relatives yet hated it to be popularly known as Milden. In the years of Soviet occupation, the Latz were placed with the rubles. Even though the occupation powers considered it a crime, many families saved silver 5 Latts coins with Zalma Broward's profile as a family relic and a symbol of freedom and Latvia's independence. When Latvia regained its independence, Milden regained its place on Latvia's currency units. The profile featured on the 500 Latts banknote and special collector coins with Milden's image were issued. One of such special coins, the original 5 Latts coin, was struck by the British Royal Mint using the original plaster model. Getting ready for the change over to Euro, the Latvian people resolved that Milden should also adorn the Latvian money in the future. Today, this money is the Latvian Euro coins, and Milden has set out on her journey to Europe telling the people there the story of Latvia, of adherence to the ideals and of enjoying freedom.