Estonia

Commemorative coin

2021

The Estonian national animal – the wolf

(Part of the National series " Estonian national symbols ")

Official Journal of the European Union

The design depicts the silhouette of the wolf and a forest. Close to the edge of the inner ring the country name ‘EESTI’ at the left, the year of issuance ‘2021’ at the right and the text ‘CANIS LUPUS’ (the wolf in Latin) at the top are depicted. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

The wolf is a symbol of wild and intact nature. It has dominated Estonian forests and swamps since time immemorial. With its distinctive social and territorial behaviour, it courageously defends its territory and protects and respects its pack, the family unit. He is a survival artist who appreciates seclusion and has charisma. These qualities qualify it as a symbol for Estonia and its inhabitants; thus, the Eurasian wolf was chosen as Estonia's national animal in 2018. A first coin design dedicated to the wolf, however, evoked associations with symbols of the Turkish right-wing extremist Grey Wolves. A corresponding tip from a German coin forum then led to the present modified design. It shows a howling wolf now turned to the left on a tree trunk, in front of the silhouette of a spruce forest and under a starry sky.

Edge lettering

Designer