Description

The year 2011 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Juhani Aho and the Mint of Finland honoured him with commemorative coins.

Juhani Aho (1861–1921), born Johannes Brofeldt, was a master of the psychological novel who wrote about the lives of Finnish people and Finnish nature. Aho wrote works varying from small events to monumental historic tales about periods of development in the Finnish nation. Juhani Aho was the first professional Finnish author. He gained international notoriety within his lifetime as his works were being translated into other European languages as early as the nineteenth century.

Aho worked as a newspaper editor. With his co-ideologists, he founded 'Päivälehti' which went on to become Finland's most respected daily newspaper, 'Helsingin Sanomat'. In 1891, Juhani Aho married the artist Venny Soldan-Brofeldt. She was the daughter of the first director of Mint of Finland, August Soldan. Aho and Soldan-Brofeldt moved to their villa at Vårbacka (now known as 'Ahola'), in Järvenpää in 1897. The area that so attracted Aho also saw other golden-age Finnish artists, such as Pekka Halonen and Jean Sibelius, move in. Tuusulan Rantatie is still a magnificent sight and provides a glimpse into the daily life of great Finnish artists.

Together, both sides of the commemorative coin form an open book. Many references to Aho's production can also be found in the commemorative coin, such as Aho's works “Railway” and “Juha”. A lamp and a female figure can also be distinguished and are references to the novel "Yksin" ("Alone").

Engraver: Reijo Juhani Paavilainen
Issue date: 11.9.2011