• The number minted of two-euro coins dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia will symbolically be the same as the population of Estonia
• The six best designs for the joint anniversary coin for the Baltic states will be entered in a public vote across all three of the countries

Eesti Pank will issue into circulation at the start of next year two two-euro commemorative coins, design competitions for which are currently underway. The design competition for the two-euro commemorative coin dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Baltic states runs until midday on 6 March and the competition for the two-euro commemorative coin for the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia runs until midday on 10 March.

The date 24 February 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, and Eesti Pank is issuing a two-euro circulating coin with a special design in honour of this. The coin is intended to symbolise the people of Estonia, and so 1,317,800 coins will be minted to match the population of Estonia on 1 January 2017 according to data from Statistics Estonia. The deadline for the submission of designs for the competition is 10 March at 12.00 midday.

Latvia and Lithuania are also celebrating their 100th anniversaries in early 2018, and so the central banks of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will issue a two-euro commemorative coin with a common design into circulation in the three countries simultaneously. The small Baltic states have striven hard in defence of their independence, and within a short period 100 years ago, each one became a free and democratic country. Independence was regained again at the start of the 1990s. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have stood up for their shared values and have worked together to maintain their independence, freedom and sovereignty. The two-euro commemorative coin to be issued marks the shared history, values and efforts of the three countries and will act as a reminder of those values to the residents of the rest of the euro area. The deadline for the submission of designs for the competition is 6 March at 12.00 midday.

Everyone can have a say in designing the common coin for the Baltic states as two designs from each country will be entered in a public vote where everyone can vote for one design over the internet. The exact conditions for the online vote will be published once the central banks have made their initial choice.

Both coins will enter circulation in early 2018.

Rules and regulations for the competition to design a two-euro commemorative coin dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.

Rules of procedure of the panel for the competition to design a two-euro commemorative coin dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Baltic states

Further information

• More information on the design competition for the two-euro dedicated to the anniversary of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania can be found on the Eesti Pank website.
• More information on the design competition for the two-euro dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia can be found on the Eesti Pank website.
• A design competition is also underway for a silver collector coin for the Estonian delegation and athletes to the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. Further information can be found on the Eesti Pank website.
• Eesti Pank is happy to receive suggestions for collector coins and commemorative coins. The bank passes all the suggestions it receives by post or email or through its website to the advisory committee for analysis and expert opinion. The proposals of the advisory committee are used by the management of Eesti Pank when they decide on which commemorative and collector coins to issue.
• The committee is chaired by Mart Laar, and its members are Aino Lepik von Wirén, Piret Õunapuu, Ivar Leimus, Raul Rebane, Toomas Kiho and Lauri Vahtre.
• The collector coins issued by Eesti Pank can be seen on the Eesti Pank website. 

Additional information:
Piret Luhakooder
Cash and Infrastructure Department
Tel: 668 0791
Email: [email protected]

Ingrid Mitt
Public Relations Office
Tel: 668 0965, 512 6843
Email: [email protected]
Press enquiries: [email protected]