Description

The collector coin is part of the Europa Coin Programme, also known as the European Silver Programme, or the Eurostar Programme. It is an initiative dedicated to the issuance of collector-oriented legal tender coins in precious metals to celebrate European identity. The issuing authorities of EU member countries voluntarily contribute coins to the Europa Coin Programme. Multiple countries have participated in the programme, beginning in 2004. Some coins are denominated in euro, others are denominated in other currencies.

Two major changes have been made to the series in 2016: an obverse designed according to a common principle and the introduction of a five-year thematic sequence featuring five ages of Europe. The sequence starts in 2016 with Modern 20th Century.

This commemorative coin pays tribute to the Baroque and Rococo epochs. The Baroque style, originating from 17th-century Italy, brought extravagance and rich ornamentation to art and architecture. Its successor, the Rococo style, sought to achieve elegance and beauty and is principally identified with the French court of the 18th century.

The Baroque and the Rococo styles have found a Scandinavian interpretation in the sea fortress Suomenlinna. The Baroque style is reflected in many parts of the Suomenlinna fortress and the decorative ideas of Rococo are reflected in the living areas of the fortress.

The commemorative coins are individually packaged in plastic casings set in a birch veneer frame crafted by Finnish carpenter Wooden Oy. The frame is surrounded by a ribbon and the package contains a certificate of authenticity telling the story behind the commemorative coin.

Issue date: 18.05.2018

Obverse

Depicts the mints’ shared Europa Star symbol and Finland’s national Lion emblem, surrounded by the inscriptions in Finnish and Swedish "European Times", country name and year of issue. The Eurostar logo below.

The coat of arms of Finland is a crowned lion on a red field, the right foreleg replaced with an armoured hand brandishing a sword, trampling on a sabre with the hindpaws. The coat of arms was originally created around the year 1580.

The Eurostar logo is the special mark used on coins to indicate participation in the Europa Coin Programme.

EUROOPAN AIKAKAUDET EUROPEISKA EPOKER
SUOMI FINLAND
2018

Reverse

Depicts the portrait of the architect of Suomenlinna, Augustin Ehrensvärd, and the cartographic image of the fortified island Suomenlinna, surrounded by the architect's name above and denomination and the fortress name in Finnish and Swedish below. The engraver's initial is before the value.

Field marshal count Augustin Ehrensvärd (1710–1772) was a Swedish military officer, military architect, artist, and creator of the Suomenlinna (Sveaborg) fortress and the Swedish archipelago fleet.

In 1747, he was chosen by king Frederick I of Sweden to design and construct a maritime fortress near Helsinki in Finland, then a part of the Kingdom of Sweden. Building the fortress of Sveaborg became a life's work for Ehrensvärd, who kept expanding the island fortress until his death in 1772. Ehrensvärd's design was a low-profile bastion-type fortress that would follow the natural contours of the islands and thus remain inconspicuous to enemy fleets. Many of the constructions in Sveaborg are considered to be architectural masterpieces.

Suomenlinna (Finnish) or Sveaborg (Swedish) is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands (Kustaanmiekka, Susisaari, Iso-Mustasaari, Pikku-Mustasaari, Länsi-Mustasaari and Långören) and which now forms part of the city of Helsinki, the capital of Finland.

Engraver: Erkki Vainio

AUGUSTIN EHRENSVÄRD
e 10 EURO SUOMENLINNA SVEABORG

Edge

10 Euro

Eurostar - Five Ages of Europe
Baroque and Rococo - Augustin Ehrensvärd

Subscribe series
KM#
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 17 g
Diameter 33 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
Mint of Finland

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