Description

In 2017 Finland celebrated the centennial of its independence. This one-hundred-year-old has lived through love, loss and triumph, standing united. For one hundred years, the Finnish people have been building the independent nation that they call their own.

After the 1917 February Revolution, the position of Finland as part of the Russian Empire was questioned. Since the head of state was the tsar of Russia, it was not clear who the chief executive of Finland was after the revolution. After the abdication of Grand Duke Nicholas II on 2 March (15 March N.S.) 1917, the personal union between Russia and Finland lost its legal base – at least according to the view in Helsinki. There were negotiations between the Russian Provisional Government and Finnish authorities.

On 2 November (15 November N.S.) 1917, Vladimir Lenin declared a general right of self-determination, including the right of complete secession, "for the Peoples of Russia". On the same day the Finnish Parliament issued a declaration by which it assumed, pro tempore, all powers of the Sovereign in Finland.

The silver coin with a nominal value of EUR 10 is designed by 15-year-old Saara Peltomäki from Jyväskylä (obverse) and 16-year-old Jennifer Tuomisto from Turku (reverse). The collector coin's design was selected by a contest organised for comprehensive school pupils.