Finland

2013

Commemorative coin

The 150th anniversary of the Parliament of 1863

Official Journal of the European Union

The 2-euro commemorative coin is depicted with the year 1863 and a shoot growing out of it symbolising the start of democracy and Finland’s development. In semicircle, at the bottom, the name of the issuing country ‘SUOMI FINLAND’ with the two words separated by the mint mark, and the year ‘2013’. The Diet of 1863 is the start of period of illumination. In Finland, the year 1863 marked a start for genuine democracy, transparent press operations and the right to use the Finnish language. With the beginning of regular meetings of the Diet, the opportunities of Finns to influence affairs in their own country improved in an unprecedented way. The year marked the beginning of a period of illumination for Finnish democracy. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

The convening of the Imperial Diet of the Grand Duchy of Finland ushered in a period of "enlightenment". In Finland, 1863 marked the beginning of true democracy, transparent press operations and the right to use the Finnish language. With the convening of regular sessions of the Diet, the possibilities for Finns to influence affairs in their country, which was part of the Russian Empire, improved. The coin, designed by Petri Neuvonen, shows the tendril of a germinating plant formed from the number 6 of the year "1863", which is meant to symbolise the beginning of Finland's development into a true democracy.

Edge lettering

Designer