By Wednesday evening, commercial banks and Eesti Post had sold 351,420 starter kits of the Estonian euro coins.

"The popularity of the starter kits is a pleasant surprise, since it shows that people are interested in and preparing for the adoption of the euro," said Rait Roosve, Head of the Cash and Security Department of Eesti Pank.

The central bank has decided to order 100,000 more starter kits, which should arrive at the end of December.

The euro coin starter kits, which contain all the coins due to be launched on 1 January, are sold by commercial banks and offices of Eesti Post.
By Wednesday, commercial banks had ordered about 475,000 starter kits from Eesti Pank. The central bank has ordered 700,000 kits from the Mint of Finland. Thus, commercial banks and Eesti Post can order more kits from Eesti Pank.

The legal framework of euro adoption prescribes that the central bank is allowed to distribute euro cash, including starter kits, to commercial banks only. Thus, Eesti Post, which is also selling the kits, has to get them from commercial banks on the basis of respective contracts.

The starter kits are intended to allow residents to familiarise themselves with the new euro coins and to ensure people can start using cash as from 1 January, the €-day.
Both the starter kits and the exchange of euro banknotes are intended for natural persons.
One starter kit costs 200 kroons and it is possible to purchase up to five starter kits at a time.

The starter kit contains 42 euro coins worth 12.79 euro. The kit also contains a security chip confirming the authenticity of the coin set.
Eesti Pank has commissioned the kits from the Mint of Finland. The production of the starter kits is co-funded by the European Commission.
The coins in starter kits will become valid as from 1 January 2011, when euro becomes legal tender in Estonia.

The starter kit contains the following euro coins: seven 1-cent coins, six 2-, 5-, 10- and 20-cent coins, five 50-cent coins, four €1 coins and two €2 coins.

Click here to see the photo of the starter kit's front side, here to see its back and here to see the security chip.

Further information:
Viljar Rääsk
Public Relations Office
Telephone: +372 668 0745, +372 527 5055
E-mail: [email protected]