• Three thousand of the coins have been minted
• Each coin will cost 70 euros and have a nominal value of 15 euros
• The coin will go on sale at 09.00 on 21 November in the Omniva online shop and at 12.00 in the Eesti Pank museum shop
• Eesti Pank will present the silver coin at 12.10 on 21 November at a discussion on education at the Koidula Gümnaasium in Pärnu that will consider gaps in education in Estonia in the past and today. Attendance is by invitation

On 21 November Eesti Pank will release a silver collector coin dedicated to Lilli Suburg. She was one of the first people in Estonia to speak and act publicly in favour of rights for women. The silver coin designed for her is the first in a new series of collector coins from Eesti Pank dedicated to Outstanding Estonian Women that is intended to highlight better those women who have had a major influence on the development of society.

Lilli Suburg (1841–1923) was a writer, journalist, schoolteacher and educationalist, and one of the first campaigners for women’s rights. Suburg’s ideas and efforts were quite revolutionary for her times, and she founded and was editor-in-chief of Linda, the first journal in Estonia aimed at women. The journal discussed the unequal position of women in society and looked for ways to improve it, encouraging women to seek an education and attempting to broaden their horizons, while giving them inspiration and an example to follow. Suburg founded the first private school for girls and used innovative teaching methods to awaken the interest and curiosity of her pupils.

The coin shows a portrait of Lilli Suburg, her name and the years she lived (1841–1923), and the nominal value of the coin of 15 euros. The obverse side shows the great coat of arms of the Republic of Estonia, the words “Eesti Vabariik”, and the year 2025.

The coin was designed by Tiiu Pirsko and Mati Veermets. They both graduated in graphic design from the Estonian State Art Institute, now the Estonian Academy of Arts, and they run a design bureau together. They have represented Estonia several times at international graphic arts triennials and been successful in other earlier design competitions for coins run by Eesti Pank. One of their designs was the gold coin for the centenary of the Republic of Estonia, while other designs have had a maritime connection, as their ideas were used for the two-euro circulation coin dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica in 2020, and the collector coin issued in 2022 to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Admiral Johan Pitka.

The coins were minted by the Lithuanian mint. 

Discussion on gaps in education

The discussion will start from the work of Lilli Suburg and look at the challenges that there still are today, 150 years later. Education was harder to come by at that time for women than for men and the education gap benefited men, while only very few women were able to get a higher education. The education gap has reversed today, as around 2/3 of those with higher education are women, and only 1/3 are men. The discussion will consider the implications of this change for society.

Participating in the discussion will be Tairi Rõõm, an economist from Eesti Pank; Sandra Fomotškin, Advisor on Inclusive Education at the Ministry of Education and Research; Erik Väljaäär, student at Pärnu Koidula Gümnaasium; and Aigar Vaigu, physicist and popular science promoter. The discussion will be chaired by Anu Välba.

New coin packaging

The coin is packaged in a coin box made of striped plywood that was created in a joint programme called LAETUS run by Eesti Pank and the Estonian Academy of Arts. The idea for the box came from Erkki Pung, a designer and student at the Academy. The coin box is a unique product that did not previously exist in the market and was made specially for the coin for Lilli Suburg.

This box is a test project that the central bank is using in order to find a sustainable, contemporary solution for packaging collector coins. The striped plywood made of layers of recycled wood gives each box a unique pattern and combines natural aesthetics with a durable and timeless form. Feedback from customers about the experimental coin boxes will be taken into account in the packaging for future coins and the information gained will be used for all the coins to be issued in 2026.

Sales of the coin

• The coins will go on sale on 21 November at 09.00 in the Omniva online shop.
• They will be available from the Eesti Pank museum at Estonia pst 11, Tallinn from 21 November during its opening hours from Tuesdays to Fridays 12.00-17.00 and on Saturdays 11.00-16.00. The Eesti Pank museum shop can be contacted on 668 0650
• The coins will also be on sale in the foyer of the Koidula Gümnaasium in Pärnu at Metsa 21, Pärnu, on 21 November from 12.15 to 14.00 when the coin is presented. The designers of the coin will be present at the event from 12.30 to sign the coin certificates
• The Omniva customer service can be contacted by telephone on 661 6616 on working days from 09.00-20.00, and at weekends and on national holidays from 09.00–15.00, or by email at [email protected]

Further information:

The coin dedicated to Lilli Suburg is a collector coin. Collector coins are mostly made of precious metals and commemorate important events or people for the issuing country. Collector coins are only legal tender in the country of issue. They are not intended for circulation, but rather for collecting or as gifts, and their selling price usually exceeds their nominal value.

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