Estonia: Winning €2 coin design unveiled celebrating centenary of Independence

April 28, 2017 By Michael Alexander Leave a Comment

The supervisory board of the Bank of Estonia (Eesti Pank) have confirmed the winning designs in their competition for the €2 coin dedicated to the centenary anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, which will be officially celebrated in February 2018. (This coin is separate from the joint commemorative issue of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, reported here, and from the Estonian coin commemorating the events leading up to independence, reported here.)

Estonian Independence was declared from Russia on the 24th February 1918, which is the day that is celebrated (the declaration was officially recognised by the Treaty of Tartu on the 2nd February 1920). This self-determination was short-lived, with Soviet forces occupying Estonia along with Latvia and Lithuania in 1944 when all three Baltic States were illegally incorporated into the USSR. Estonian independence would not be re-established until 1991, when the USSR once again recognised all three Baltic States as independent. Estonia is a member of the EU and NATO since 2004.

The €2 coin will feature the jubilee’s official national logo, which can be read as the numbers 18 and 100. This trick with the numbers unites the year of the state’s founding with the centenary anniversary. The winning designers are Ionel Lehari and Meelis Opmann of the concept-and-design agency Identity OÜ, which is also the agency behind the official logo for the Estonian centenary. Second place in the design competition went to Riho Luuse, and third to Heino Prunsvelt.

Estonia’s €2 commemorative coin, which will be a circulation coin within the euro-zone area, will have the usual common reverse side and a special commemorative design on the national or obverse side. As the coin is intended to symbolise and honour the people of Estonia, the mintage will be 1,317,800—the population of Estonia recorded on the 1st January 2017, according to data from Statistics Estonia. The coin will enter into circulation in early 2018 and will be valid as legal tender throughout the euro-zone area.

Once the coin is released, the winning designers will receive a prize of €2,000. The second-place design will win €700, and the third-place design, €500. Where designers have worked together on a single design, they will share the prize money. In total, there were 33 entries in the design competition for the €2 commemorative coin.

Please visit the website of the Bank of Estonia for more information on this and other coins it issues. ❑

BEFORE YOU COMMENT:

Coin Update is not a retail website. If you wish to buy a coin or banknote, you should contact a reputable dealer. One of our sponsors (see ads at right and top of page) may also have what you’re looking for, so be sure to check out their websites.
Per policy, we do not advise on the value, authenticity, or rarity of readers’ coins and banknotes. For this kind of assistance, you should contact a reputable dealer, preferably one who’s certified by the American Numismatic Association and/or the Professional Numismatists Guild.
Vulgar and/or abusive comments will not be tolerated. Nor will trolls.
Allegations of fraudulent or criminal activity against a named party, when said activity has not been proven in a court of law, will be removed.

United States Mint selects 27 artists for Artistic Infusion Program

Washington — On July 17, the United States Mint announced that 27 artists have been selected to participate in its Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) to enrich and enhance designs on U.S. coins. “We’ve selected diverse artists who represent every region of America, from coast to coast,” said Mint Director David J. Ryder. “16 of the […]

East India Company and Niue: Latest gold and silver coins in tribute to the world’s Trade dollars features Japanese “Dragon dollar”

The East India Company Ltd., in partnership with the treasury of the Island of Niue, has released the fourth coin in their current innovative collector coin series entitled “The Trade Dollar Collection.” The series features five of the most popular trade pieces issued during the mid-19th into the 20th century. The Trade Dollar Collection series […]

Ohio budget kills sales-tax exemption

ICTA member Dave Miholer (Executive Coin Company, Stow, Ohio) brought to our attention in May that the Ohio 2020–2021 budget eliminated the sales-tax exemption on the purchases of investment metal bullion and investment coins. The budget plan also directs the state to begin collecting sales taxes on interstate purchases, due to the requirements of South […]

U.S. Mint sales report: Week ending July 14, 2019

This U.S. Mint numismatic sales report covers the week ending July 14, 2019. The Mint’s best-selling product this week was the 2019 Proof Set (19RG), which sold 3,613 units. In second place was the 2019 Silver Proof Set (19RH) with 3,009 sold. The third best-selling item this week was the 2019 Apollo 11 silver $1 Proof […]

Sierra Leone: “The Big Five” safari series now available as cupro-nickel crown coins

The Bank of Sierra Leone has announced (16th July) the availability of the most recent series of collector coins entitled “The Big Five,” which will soon be available as cupro-nickel crown-size coins. The “Big Five” refers to the animals that freely inhabit the African continent and whose presence in the wild is both breathtaking and […]

2019 American $1 Coin & Currency Set: Special labels and pedigree available

Special NGC and PMG labels and pedigrees are available to recognize the coin and note in the 2019 Native American Coin & Currency Set. Special submission instructions must be followed. See the “Submission Instructions” section of this article. The U.S. Mint has announced that the 2019 Native American $1 Coin & Currency Set goes on sale […]

United States Mint to release special set featuring Native American $1 coin and $1 note on July 24

Washington — The United States Mint will open sales for the 2019 Native American $1 Coin & Currency Set (product code 19NR) on July 24 at noon EDT. This unique set pairs one enhanced Uncirculated 2019 Native American $1 coin produced by the United States Mint at Philadelphia and one $1 Series 2017 note produced […]

Bowers on collecting: Focus on Peace silver dollars

I continue my comments to answer reader inquiries received after my May 8th edition. Next is the last of the questions I have received. A.E.W. of New Mexico writes: I have always been curious why the shorter (and more attractive, in my opinion) Peace Dollar series, especially with its die varieties and differences, is so […]

Latvia: Eminent Modernist artist Niklāvs Strunke remembered on latest off-shaped silver coins

The Bank of Latvia has announced (7th July) they will issue new silver Proof collector coins of a specific shape dedicated to the creative heritage of Niklāvs Strunke (1894–1966). Strunke was a Latvian painter, graphic artist, and stage designer. Niklāvs Strunke is regarded as one of the most original Latvian Modernists who strongly proved his […]

Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee will meet on July 17

The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) will hold a public meeting, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. The meeting will be held in the Eighth Floor Board Room of the United States Mint Headquarters in Washington, D.C. CCAC members plan to review and discuss candidate designs for the 2020 […]