The Supervisory Board of Eesti Pank approved the design by Kaupo Kangro as the winner in the design competition for the silver collector coin dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Anne Vabarna.

The silver coin will spotlight the role of the Seto traditional folkloric singer Anne Vabarna as a folk poet and source of Seto cultural heritage within the history of Estonian culture. The coin will be the second in a series of collector coins dedicated to Outstanding Estonian Women, which started in 2025 with a coin dedicated to Lilli Suburg. The idea behind the series is to recognise those women who have had a major influence on the development of Estonian society.

Anne Vabarna was one of the great Estonian folk singers, and the songs she created are an important part of the intangible heritage of Estonia. The old style of polyphonic singing still survives today in Setomaa in the 21st century having adapted to cultural changes over time.

The silver collector coin will have a nominal value of 15 euros and 2500 will be minted. The coins will be issued in 2027.

Second place in the competition went to a design by Väino Õuna, and third place went to another design by Kaupo Kangro.

The winning design

Preparations will be made to mint the coin from the winning design from the design competition, though the design may be altered for technical reasons.

The prize for the winner of the design competition is 3000 euros, with the second placed design receiving 2000 euros, and the third placed 1000.

For further information:
Gerli Rauk
Communications officer
Eesti Pank
Tel: 668 0842
Press enquiries: [email protected]