Description

Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld (1832–1901) was a Finland-Swedish aristocrat, geologist, mineralogist and Arctic explorer. He was a member of the Fenno-Swedish Nordenskiöld family of scientists and held the title of a friherre (baron).

Born in the Grand Duchy of Finland at the time it was a part of the Russian Empire, he was later, due to his political activity, forced to move to Sweden, where he later became a member of the Parliament of Sweden and of the Swedish Academy. He led the Vega Expedition along the northern coast of Eurasia in 1878–1879. This was the first complete crossing of the Northeast Passage. Initially a troubled enterprise, the successful expedition is considered to be among the highest achievements in the history of Swedish science.

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.

Engraver: Reijo Juhani Paavilainen

Obverse

Depicts an abstract portrait of Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld, as a sailor at the ship’s wheel during foul weather, surrounded by the explorer's name and dates of his life, date of the issue below.

The engraver's initial (P) below.

1832-1901 A.E. NORDENSKIÖLD
2007
P

Reverse

Depicts a labyrinth or pattern formed by ice blocks. Value in the centre, country name in Finnish and Swedish below.

The Vega Expedition (Swedish: Vegaexpeditionen) of 1878–1880, named after the SS Vega and under the leadership of Swedish-Finnish explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld, was the first Arctic expedition to navigate through the Northeast Passage, the sea route between Europe and Asia through the Arctic Ocean, and the first voyage to circumnavigate Eurasia.

The Eurostar logo (the special mark used on coins to indicate participation in the Europa Coin Programme) on the top right, the logo of the Mint of Finland (cornucopia) above.

NORTH-
EAST
PASSAGE
10 €
SUOMI FINLAND

Edge

10 Euro

Eurostar - European Realisation
175th Anniversary of Birth of Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld

Subscribe series
KM# 134 Schön# 134
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 25.5 g
Diameter 38.6 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Mint of Finland

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