Obverse. Photo © Monetnik.ru
  • 2 Euro 2020, KM# 296, Finland, Republic, 100th Anniversary of Birth of Väinö Linna
  • 2 Euro 2020, KM# 296, Finland, Republic, 100th Anniversary of Birth of Väinö Linna
Description

Mint of Finland has issued 2 euro commemorative coin dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Väinö Linna.

Väinö Linna (1920–1992) was a Finnish author. He gained literary fame with his third novel, Tuntematon sotilas (The Unknown Soldier, published in 1954), and consolidated his position with the trilogy Täällä Pohjantähden alla (Under the North Star, published in 1959–1963).

Linna's realism of his work has had a profound influence on Finnish social, political and cultural life. His novels have a place in Finland's literary canon, among Kalevala, Seven Brothers and other classics. Many quotations from his works are nowadays Finnish sayings. The opening line of Under the North Star, "In the beginning there were the swamp, the hoe – and Jussi", is recognized by most Finns as well as Rokka's famous exclamation, "Where do you need a real good man, here you have one!", from The Unknown Soldier. Showcasing the value of his legacy, Linna was pictured on the 20 markka banknote which was in use from 1993 to the introduction of the Euro. In addition, both of his major works have been filmed twice.

Obverse

Depicts the portrait of Väinö Linna (right) and his name on the left. The background reflects Linna's work in a textile factory and shows letters as woven fabric and threads that run through his books. Date, the Mint of Finland’s logo (lion) and country code (FI) below the portrait. The twelve stars of the European flag are shown on the outer coin ring.

Design: Petri Neuvonen

VÄINÖ LINNA
2020
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

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

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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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100th Anniversary of Birth of Väinö Linna

Silver, 25.5 g, ⌀ 38.6 mm