Eesti Pank will be issuing a silver coin to commemorate the Forest Brothers in 2026 as part of the series of coins dedicated to resistance. The Forest Brothers were men and women who decided to resist the terror of the Soviet occupation forces and keep alive the people’s dream of a free Estonia.

The idea behind the series of collector coins dedicated to Resistance is to recognise activities and groups that in one way or another helped resist the occupation of Estonia and stood up for an independent and free Estonia. The first coin in the series is a silver coin dedicated to the Finnish Boys that will be issued in the second half of 2025. The second coin in the series will be dedicated to the Forest Brothers and will spotlight the fight of the Estonian people for freedom.

Thousands of fighters operated in the Estonian forests in the 1940s and 1950s, and their determination and commitment inspired whole generations. Their story reminds us that freedom should not be taken for granted but must be nurtured and defended. The Forest Brothers were not always soldiers who had fought at the front, as they were mostly ordinary Estonian people whose dream of a free country stayed alive even during the hardest times. The coin dedicated to the Forest Brothers is a tribute to those who would not accept occupation but continued to resist in the hope that Estonia would again become free.

BACKGROUND

A series of collector coins usually consists of at least three coins that are dedicated to the same theme. Eesti Pank has issued various series of collector coins dedicated for example to the Estonian athletes at the Olympic Games, and to the 150th anniversary of the births of Estonian statesman and leading figures in society. The central bank has also issued coins dedicated to the Estonian national animal, the national bird and the national flower. There is an entire series of collector coins for the Estonian Hanseatic towns.

Suggestions for minting collector and two-euro commemorative coins are welcome from everyone, and can be sent through the Eesti Pank website. Suggestions for coins to be minted in 2027 can be sent until the end of August 2025.

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.

Collector coins are minted from precious metals to celebrate historical people and events. They are not intended for circulation and they are only legal tender in the country that issued them. The selling price of collector coins made of precious metals usually exceeds their nominal value.

Commemorative coins are two-euro coins that are released into circulation, and that have a special commemorative design on the national side in place of the usual national design. They are intended to commemorate important national or European events or themes.

Additional information:
Gerli Rauk
Communications officer
668 0842
[email protected]
Press enquiries: [email protected]