• The coin will enter circulation through banks and shops on 30 January
• 850,000 coins will be minted
• There will be 8500 two-euro coin cards, which will sell for 12.20 euros
• The coin and coin card will go on sale at 12.00 on 30 January in the Omniva online shop. Coins and coin cards will be available from the Eesti Pank museum from 12.00 on the same day
• Eesti Pank will present the coin and the coin card at 11.30 on 30 January in the library of the University of Tartu at the opening day event for the Year of the Estonian Book. Participation at the event is by invitation

On 30 January Eesti Pank will issue into circulation a two-euro coin with a special design dedicated to 500 years of books in Estonian. The centre of the coin for the 500th anniversary of the Estonian book shows four stylised books forming the letter E and the design is encircled by the words “Eesti raamat 500” and the years 1525 and 2025.

“The written word was one of the main paths of communication that allowed integration with the rest of Europe, but it was also a social bond that encouraged Estonians to see themselves as a single, united nation”, notes linguist Jüri Viikberg on the coin card. “Estonians became a cultured people through the written word and their general literacy. The 500th anniversary of Estonian as a written language is then also the anniversary of the Estonian book”.

A total of 850,000 coins have been minted, of which 8500 are BU (brilliant uncirculated) quality and are sold on a coin card. The coins were minted by the Lithuanian mint. The two-euro commemorative coins with the special design are valid as legal tender throughout the euro area and they are issued into circulation through banks and shops.

The coin was designed by the Bulgarian graphic designer Svetlin Balezdrov, who has also designed collector and commemorative coins for the Bulgarian central bank. He runs a design studio under his own name and teaches at the National Academy of Art in Sofia.

The coin card was designed by graphic artist and book designer Katrin Kaev.

Sales of the coin

• Coin rolls and coin cards are on sale in the Omniva online shop from 12.00 on 30 January.
• Coins and coin cards will be available from the Eesti Pank museum at Estonia pst 11, Tallinn from 30 January 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 and coin cards will also be on sale at the library of the University of Tartu at W. Struve 1, Tartu, on 30 January from 12.30 to 14.30
• 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].

What are commemorative coins?

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 to commemorate a particular significant national or European event or topic. The coins are all legal tender throughout the euro area, so they can be used for payments like any other euro coin.

The design competition was originally held for a coin for the 500th anniversary of Estonian as a written language, but was later changed so that the design for the coin and its dedication were for 500 years of books in Estonian.

Additional information:
Gerli Rauk
Communications Specialist
Eesti Pank
Tel: 6680 842
Press enquiries: [email protected]