Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2013, KM# 193, Finland, Republic, 125th Anniversary of Birth of Frans Eemil Sillanpää
  • 2 Euro 2013, KM# 193, Finland, Republic, 125th Anniversary of Birth of Frans Eemil Sillanpää
  • 2 Euro 2013, KM# 193, Finland, Republic, 125th Anniversary of Birth of Frans Eemil Sillanpää, Purse
Description

Frans Eemil Sillanpää (1888–1964) was one of the most famous Finnish writers. He won international fame for his novel Nuorena nukkunut (translated to English as The Maid Silja) in 1931. In 1939, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature "for his deep understanding of his country's peasantry and the exquisite art with which he has portrayed their way of life and their relationship with Nature."

In 1941 Sillanpää divorced his wife. His alcoholism and other ailments needed hospital treatment. In 1943 he returned to public life as a bearded old 'Grandpa Sillanpää'. His radio appearances, especially tradition of talking on Christmas-Eve from 1945 to 1963 became very popular.

Obverse

Depicts Sillanpää's portrait. At the top, in semi-circle, his name. At the left, the year of his birth and the logo of the Mint of Finland (a lion). At the right, the year of his death, the indication of the issuing country 'FI' and the year of issuance. The outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Engraver: Reijo Juhani Paavilainen

F. E. SILLANPÄÄ
2013
1888 1964
FI

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Luc Luycx, a designer at the Royal Belgian Mint, designed the Euro’s common reverse; his initials, LL, are seen on the right side of the design, just under the “O” in “EURO.”

2 EURO
LL

Edge

"SUOMI FINLAND" (FINLAND in Finnish and Swedish, the two official languages in Finland), followed by three lion's heads

SUOMI FINLAND

2 Euro

125th Anniversary of Birth of Frans Eemil Sillanpää

KM# 193 Schön# 194
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Cupronickel
Center Nickel Brass
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Mint of Finland

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