26.09.2024
A two-euro commemorative coin dedicated to Estonian independence will enter circulation on 26 June
Postitatud:
20.06.2017
NB! The coin card for the two-euro coin dedicated to Estonian independence has sold out in the museum and the online store. It is available only in some post offices. A list of the post offices selling the coin cards can be found at the end of the press release.
The two-euro coin with a special design will enter circulation on 26 June and can be used for payment across the whole euro area
A total of 1.5 million coins will be minted
There will be 10,000 two-euro coin cards, which will sell for seven euros
- The coins and coin cards will be on sale in the Eesti Pank online shop from 14.00 on 26 June, and in the museum shop from 27 June
At 13.00 on 26 June Eesti Pank will present the two-euro circulation coin with a special design dedicated to the events that preceded Estonian independence in the White Hall of Toompea castle at a meeting of the Noorte Maapäev Youth Assembly. The coins will enter circulation and be available from the online shop from 14.00 on 26 June.
On 26 June 1917 a regulation on the election of a provincial council was published in the Tallinna Teataja newspaper, setting out the procedures, main dates and other details for the election of the Estonian Provincial Assembly, or the Maapäev. Exactly 100 years to the day later as part of the celebration of the centenary of the Republic of Estonia, school students who are standing for the Noorte Maapäeva Youth Assembly will all come together.
“Eesti Pank is greatly honoured to present the two-euro circulation coin at the meeting of the Noorte Maapäev. The original elections to the Maapäev provincial assembly and the decisions taken by the Maapäev laid the foundations for Estonia to become an independent republic on 24 February 1918. By presenting the coin on 26 June we are symbolically bringing together different generations from the past and from today, in the same way that the national side of the commemorative coin does”, said Ardo Hansson, Governor of Eesti Pank.
The design for the two-euro commemorative coin dedicated to the events that preceded Estonia’s independence shows oak leaves, bare oak branches and the sinuous trunk of an oak. The winding oak symbolises Estonia’s road to independence, the bare branches relate to the year 1917, and the leaves symbolise strength, achievement and longevity. The oak leaves feature on the great coat of arms of the Republic of Estonia. The coin was designed by Jaan Meristo.
A two-euro commemorative coin is a circulation coin with the usual common side and a special commemorative design on the national side. In all, 1.5 million of the coins will be minted. Of these, 10,000 will be packaged as souvenirs with a coin card and a price of seven euros. The coins were minted by the Lithuanian Mint and the coin cards were made by Kurowski Group Sp. z o.o. of Poland.
Eesti Pank will start to release the coins to banks from 26 June. After that they will start to enter general circulation through retailers. The coins and coin cards will also be on sale in the Eesti Pank online shop from 14.00 on 26 June and from 27 June the commemorative coins and coin cards will be available from the Eesti Pank museum shop. The coin card will also be on sale from 27 June in the post offices of Eesti Post that sell collector coins and other collector items, but the post offices will not sell individual coins or rolls of coins.
Each purchaser can buy up to ten coin cards. The coins and coin cards cannot be booked in advance. There is no limit on how many commemorative coins can be bought. Individual coins and rolls of coins will be sold at their face value, but there will be a service fee for larger orders that relates to the weight of the coins. Eesti Pank retains the right to change the amounts on sale in response to demand.
The Eesti Pank Museum at Estonia pst 11, Tallinn is open from Tuesdays to Fridays 12.00-17.00 and on Saturdays 11.00-16.00.
Print-quality photographs of the commemorative coin can be found on the Eesti Pank website.
What are commemorative coins?
The commemorative coin is a normal circulating coin with a special design. Such coins can be used for normal payments and they draw attention to what is being commemorated on them. The special designs are related to an important local or European event. Commemorative coins are always two-euro coins, and no other coins are issued with special designs. Each euro-area member may issue two special two-euro coins into circulation each year, unless a joint commemorative coin has been issued, and they are valid for payment throughout the euro area. The countries of the euro area may also issue one joint commemorative coin once a year. Commemorative coins are valid as legal tender throughout the euro area.
More information on commemorative coins can be found on the website of the European Central Bank.
What are collector coins?
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, but they are not intended for circulation and their selling price usually exceeds their nominal value.
Which post offices sell Eesti Pank collector items?
The coin card will be on sale alongside other Eesti Pank collector items from June 27 in the following post offices during their opening hours (please note that the post offices will not sell coins individually):
1) Tallinn post office, Narva mnt 1
2) Tallinn Kristiine centre post office, Endla 45
3) Tallinn Toompea post office, Lossi plats 4
4) Tartu Kvartali Centre post office, Riia 2
5) Tartu Eeden post office, Kalda tee 1C
6) Kuressaare post office, Torni 1
7) Haapsalu post office, Nurme 2
8) Narva Astri post office, Tallinna mnt 41
9) Pärnu post office, Hommiku 4
10) Rakvere post office, Ferdinand Gustav Adoffi 11
11) Valga post office, Kesk tänav 10
12) Viljandi post office, Tallinna 22
For more information please contact the Omniva client service on 661 6616.
For further information:
Eesti Pank museum shop 668 0650
Eesti Pank information line 668 0719
Ingrid Mitt
Public Relations Office
Tel: 668 0965
Email: [email protected]
Press enquiries: [email protected]