• Eesti Pank will issue a silver collector coin and a gold one for the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia
• Entries in the design competition should be presented for the set of both coins
• The design of the coin should reflect symbols that are important for the Republic of Estonia and the people of Estonia
• Eesti Pank will hold a seminar on 22 March where the head designer of the Finnish Mint, Erkki Vainio, will give advice on important points to remember in designing coins

Eesti Pank is holding a competition to design silver and gold collector coins for the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Estonia. Entries in the design competition should be presented for the set of both coins. The coins will be issued in early 2018.

The date 24 February 2018 will mark 100 years since the Declaration of Estonian Independence was pronounced, and the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. The road to independence for Estonia was long and winding and for the Estonian people independence is not to be taken for granted. Estonia has fought hard for its independence and the Estonian identity has survived because of the faith, will and desire of the people for freedom, and their readiness to fight for it. The coins dedicated to the anniversary of the country and its people will transmit those values and their design should reflect symbols that are important for the Republic of Estonia and its people.

Eesti Pank will be issuing a silver coin with a nominal value of 10 euros and a gold coin with a nominal value of 100 euros to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic. Both designs must have the national great coat of arms, the words "Eesti Vabariik" and the year 2018 on the obverse side, and the original design dedicated to the national anniversary together with the nominal value and the euro symbol on the reverse.

Every designer or group of designers entering the design competition for the collector coins for the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia must submit designs for both the silver and gold coins to ensure the integrity of the set of coins. The designs for the coins should not be copies of each other. Designers or design teams entering the competition may submit multiple designs for the set of coins.

Eesti Pank is holding a seminar on 22 March at 11.00-13.00 for those wishing to enter the competition, at which the different parts of banknotes and coins and their technical characteristics will be explained. The minting of coins and the requirements for making plaster or 3D models will be discussed. The head designer of the Mint of Finland, Erkki Vainio, will speak at the seminar. To attend the seminar, please register by 17 March at the latest by emailing [email protected] or calling 668 0723.

The deadline for the submission of correctly formatted designs is 3 May 2017 at 12.00. Designs should be brought to Eesti Pank by the deadline or sent to: Mündižürii, Eesti Pank, Estonia pst 13, 15095 Tallinn.

Eesti Pank will announce the results of the competition by 31 May 2017 at the latest. Once the coins are released, the winning designer will receive a prize of 3000 euros. There will also be prizes for the designs ranked second to fifth in the competition.

Further information:

• The design competition for the two-euro commemorative coin dedicated to the anniversary of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania runs until midday on 6 March, and more information on it can be found on the Eesti Pank website.
• The design competition for the two-euro commemorative coin dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia runs until midday on 10 March, and more information on it can be found on the Eesti Pank website.
•  A design competition is also underway for a silver collector coin for the Estonian delegation and athletes to the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. The competition ends at midday on 10 March and further information can be found on the Eesti Pank website.
• The collector coins issued by Eesti Pank can be seen on the Eesti Pank website.
• The committee is chaired by Mart Laar, and its members are Aino Lepik von Wirén, Piret Õunapuu, Ivar Leimus, Raul Rebane, Toomas Kiho and Lauri Vahtre.
• Eesti Pank is happy to receive suggestions for collector coins and commemorative coins. The bank passes all the suggestions it receives by post or email or through its website to the advisory committee for analysis and expert opinion. The proposals of the advisory committee are used by the management of Eesti Pank when they decide on which commemorative and collector coins to issue.

Additional information:
Piret Luhakooder
Cash and Infrastructure Department
Tel: 668 0791
Email: [email protected]

Ingrid Mitt
Public Relations Office
Tel: 668 0965, 512 6843
Email: [email protected]
Press enquiries: [email protected]