Estonia 20 Senti 1997-2008

History

Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com

Description

Variants of date:
• 2003 high date: 03 begins at height of lion's knee
• 2003 low date: 03 begins at height of lion's foot
• 2006 large date: digits begin at half feet's height, straight 2
• 2006 small date: digits begin over lion's feet, serifs on 2

Engravers: Arseni Mölder, Ants Raud

Obverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Lion Coat of arms Estonia Three lions (small national coat of arms) divide date. After the proclamation of independence on the 24th of February 1918, the three lions of the coat of arms of the Government of Estonia were placed on the newly minted coins of the Republic. The lions are passant guardant again like in the coat of arms of Duke Otto (the second son of Christoffer II, Prince of Denmark, Duke of Estonia and Laaland), but not crowned. In fact it is this coat of arms that came to be the coat of arms of Estonia because it appears on the seal of the city of Reval (Tallinn) used from 1340 until 1390. On this seal the coat of arms is supported by duke Otto himself. One of the lions symbolizes the courage of the fight for freedom in ancient times. The second stands for the courage in the uprisings in Harjumaa in 1343. The third represents the courage of the Estonian fight for freedom between 1918-1920. 19 99
Reverse	Encircling the numeral is the full title of the Republic of Estonia and the coin's denomination. • EESTI VABARIIK • 20 SENTI
Edge	Plain

20 Senti

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1997-2008 Estonia

KM# 23a Schön# 24a

Characteristics

Material	Nickel Plated Steel
Weight	2 g
Diameter	18.95 mm
Thickness	1 mm
Shape	round
Alignment	Medal
Mints	Berlin State Mint (A) Mint of Finland South African Mint (SA Mint) State Mints of Baden-Wuerttemberg / Stuttgart (SMBW/F)