• The coin will enter circulation through banks and shops on 5 June
• One million of the coins will be minted
• There will be 8500 two-euro coin cards, which will sell for 12.40 euros
• The coin and coin card will go on sale at 09.00 on 5 June 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 is celebrating the launch of the coin dedicated to Sipsik with a concert in Toompark for Sipsik’s birthday at 11.00 on 5 June. The Estonian Children’s Literature Centre is organising the concert as part of the Tallinn Old Town Days programme of events. The family event will see Sipsik, Anu and Ewert Sundja & Band take the stage, and there will be workshops for children. Sipsik coins will be available at the event and the coin card will be on sale there. The event is free and open to everyone.

Eesti Pank is issuing a two-euro coin with a special design on 5 June that is dedicated to the beloved character Sipsik from children’s storybooks, who has been a favourite among generations of readers and has inspired a love of books in tens of thousands of children.

Sipsik was created by the author Eno Raud and the artist Edgar Valter, and has been dear to the hearts of Estonians for over half a century. Sipsik’s stories were the first adventure in reading for many, many children, who learned about friendship and the importance of caring, and discovered the magic of play and the imagination.

Sipsik has travelled in his 65 years from the pages of a children’s magazine to books and films, and now onto a coin. The drawings of Edgar Valter helped designer Ivar Sakk create the image of Sipsik to go on the coin.

The coin card was designed by the graphic artist Vladimir Taiger, who was also one of the designers of the Estonian kroon banknotes. The text on the coin card was written by the artist and writer Piret Raud.

A total of one million Sipsik 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.

When using the photos, please cite Eesti Pank as the source.

Sales of the coin

• Coin and coin cards will go on sale in the Omniva online shop from 09.00 on 5 June.
• Coins and coin cards will be available from the Eesti Pank museum at Estonia pst 11, Tallinn from 5 June 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 available during the birthday concert for Sipsik at Toompark, Nunne 17, Tallinn on 5 June from 11.00-13.00.
• 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.

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