Eesti Pank is announcing a competition to design a two-euro circulation coin „The Estonian Literary Language 500“. Designs can be submitted for the competition until 12.00 noon on 28 February 2024. The coins will be issued into circulation at the start of 2025.

The coin will be dedicated to an extraordinary landmark in the history of the Estonian culture — the passing of 500 years since the first publication containing Estonian and the start of the Estonian literary language.

The prize for the winner of the design competition is 3,000 euros, with the second placed design receiving 2,000 euros, and the third placed 1,000 euros.

Both individuals and groups of designers are welcome to participate in the design competition, and designers may submit multiple designs.

The designs must be presented in black and white; specific requirements are described in the terms and conditions of the design contest.

Each participant may submit several designs, but different variations of a design will not be considered separate designs. All designs have to be presented on a separate sheet and marked with a keyword. Each design must be accompanied by a separate keyword and a sealed envelope containing the designer’s details.

Designs that do not conform to the technical or other terms and conditions of the design competition will be neither considered nor assessed.

Designs should be submitted to Eesti Pank by the noon of 28 February 2024. The results of the competition will be announced in the middle of 2024 at the latest.

In 2025, Eesti Pank will also issue three silver collector coins dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Otto Strandman, to Lilli Suburg from the series “Outstanding Estonian Women, and to Finnish Boys from the series “Resistance”.

Suggestions for minting collector and commemorative* coins are welcome from everyone, and can be sent through the Eesti Pank website, by email or by post. All the suggestions are considered by an advisory committee invited by Eesti Pank, and their expert opinions and recommendations are used as the basis for the Executive Board of Eesti Pank to decide which coins to mint.

* Eesti Pank commemorates historical events on the coins, and also themes that are alive and relevant for us today. A two-euro coin with a special design dedicated to the Estonian national bird, the barn swallow was issued into circulation last year for example. Coins with these special designs are called commemorative coins, Commemorative coins give tribute and remember events, people and themes that are important for Estonia and all of Europe.

For further information:
Piret Luhakooder
Cash and Infrastructure Department
668 0791
[email protected]

Gerli Rauk
Communications officer
668 0842
[email protected]
Media enquiries: [email protected]