Commemorative coin 2011 will be issued on October 17

Every year, each Eurozone member state is allowed to issue a two-euro commemorative coin with its own motif. Between 2002 and 2011, Eurozone member states have issued a total of more than 200 different euro coins. The reverse side of these commemorative euro coins is similar to that of ordinary coins, while the collector image is on the national obverse side.

As is traditional, the national side of this year's Finnish commemorative coin draws on Finnish history, as the coin symbolises the 200-year-old Bank of Finland. The Bank of Finland's roots are in the "Waihetus- Laina- ja Depositioni-Contori" ('Exchange, Lending and Deposits Bureau'), which was established in the former capital city of Turku in 1811 under the decree of Tsar Alexander I.

The commemorative coin is available to everybody

Two-euro commemorative coins are Mint of Finland's most popular product. For months now, many people from all over the world have been enquiring about the motif of the 2011 Finnish commemorative coin.

"Anybody can get hold of the commemorative coin, as part of the series will be released into general circulation. Perhaps that's where the interest in the coin and the significance of its motif lies – the coin carries a Finnish message all around the world to those people who end up with the coin in their hands," says Mint of Finland's CEO, Paul Gustafsson.

From 17 October commemorative coins for different purposes will be made available through Mint of Finland's online outlet store: as well as individually-packaged proof coins, you can buy many units of the coin at a time or as part of a coin series.

The commemorative coins will be available as UNC coins in 10-coin circulation coin purses and in packages that include 5 coin rolls. Whether in a complete proof coin set or as part of the second Bu coin set of the year, the 2011 commemorative coin will be a treasured souvenir in its plastic case alongside the coins of previous years. The proof coin set will be released on 1 November.

Commemorative coins minted on the orders of the Ministry of Finance

Mint of Finland mints Finnish commemorative coins under the orders of the Finnish Ministry of Finance. Every year, the Ministry offers Mint of Finland and commercial banks the opportunity to redeem commemorative coins. Mint of Finland offers its redeemed commemorative coins to its customers, who include consumers and coin dealers.

Commemorative coins can only be minted to the amount ordered by the Ministry in the year in which the coins are issued. Between 1.5 and 2.5 million units are minted of each Finnish commemorative coin.

Further information:

Henna Karjalainen
Communications and Marketing Manager
Mint of Finland Ltd.
+ 358 50 575 9197
henna.karjalainen(at)mint.fi

Mint of Finland Ltd. is the leading mint in the Eurozone. It is the sole owner of the German coin-blank manufacturer, Saxonia EuroCoin GmbH, and holds a 50 percent share in the Norwegian Det Norske Myntverket. Mint of Finland is dedicated to designing, marketing and minting coins. The company is owned by the Finnish state. Mint of Finland produces metallic currency, commemorative and collector coins, as well as coin sets. During 2011, Mint of Finland will issue six new collector coins and seven provincial coins. Finns are able to see how coins are produced at the ‘About a coin’ exhibition at Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre. For further information about the 2011 events, go to: www.mint.fi