Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2018, KM# 269, Finland, Republic, Finnish National Landscapes, Koli
  • 2 Euro 2018, KM# 269, Finland, Republic, Finnish National Landscapes, Koli
  • 2 Euro 2018, KM# 269, Finland, Republic, Finnish National Landscapes, Koli, Paper coin envelope
Description

The commemorative coin series Finnish National Landscapes opens with the landscape that received the most votes, and the first commemorative coin will be struck in honour of Koli National Park in North Karelia. The first special two-euro commemorative coin to be released in 2018 will share its theme of Koli with the opening coin in the series of five-euro Finnish National Landscapes coins.

Issue date: 28.5.2018

Obverse

Depicts the view from the summit of Koli, with the Mint of Finland’s logo (lion) on the right and FI as an abbreviation for country of issue on the left. Date below. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.

The design is based on a photograph taken by Juha-Pekka Järvenpää.

Koli National Park (Finnish: Kolin kansallispuisto) is a national park in the municipalities of Joensuu, Lieksa and Kontiolahti in the North Karelia region of Finland. It covers 30 square kilometres (12 sq mi) of forested hills on the western shore of Lake Pielinen, and was established in 1991. Contrary to the other national parks in Finland, Koli National Park was originally governed by the Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla. It is now governed by the Metsähallitus like the other national parks.

Koli has lots to offer cultural heritage-wise. Formerly, it was a sacrificial site, but was later used for slash-and-burn agriculture. The purpose of Koli National Park isn't to preserve wild nature, but the traditional agricultural heritage is cherished in Koli. Some fields are slashed, burnt and re-cultivated; hay is cut yearly. Traditional Finnish breeds of cow and sheep graze in the meadows of Koli.

Engraver: Erkki Vainio

Fl
2018

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

The edge reads SUOMI FINLAND (the name of the country in Finnish and Swedish, its two official languages) and contains three lion heads

SUOMI FINLAND

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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