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Description
Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), was a Finnish composer and violinist of the late Romantic and early-modern periods. He is widely recognized as his country's greatest composer and, through his music, is often credited with having helped Finland to develop a national identity during its struggle for independence from Russia.
The core of his oeuvre is his set of seven symphonies which, like his other major works, continue to be performed and recorded in his home country and internationally. His best-known compositions are Finlandia, the Karelia Suite, Valse triste, the Violin Concerto, the choral symphony Kullervo, and The Swan of Tuonela (from the Lemminkäinen Suite). Other works include pieces inspired by the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, over a hundred songs for voice and piano, incidental music for numerous plays, the opera Jungfrun i tornet (The Maiden in the Tower), chamber music, piano music, Masonic ritual music, and 21 publications of choral music.
The Finnish 100 mark note featured his image until 2002 when the euro was adopted. Since 2011, Finland has celebrated a Flag Day on 8 December, the composer's birthday, also known as the "Day of Finnish Music".
2015 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Composer Jean Sibelius. In honour of the anniversary, 2-euro bi-metallic, 10-euro silver commemorative and 100-euro gold commemorative coins were issued.
150 coins are numbered. The numbered coins are mixed randomly to a total mintage of 10,000 pieces.
The commemorative coin is the second coin issued in honour of Sibelius. The first one was struck in 1999 (100 Markkaa, KM# 89).
The Jean Sibelius silver coins were the first Finnish commemorative coins that were granted the Key Flag Symbol of Finnish origin.
Designer: Nora Tapper
Issue date: 30.1.2015
Obverse
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Depicts the starry sky of Ainola and a copse of pine trees, under which Sibelius was captured in several photographs. Ainola, meaning "Aino's place", was the home of the composer Jean Sibelius, his wife Aino and their family from the autumn of 1904 until 1972. It stands on the scenic shores of Lake Tuusulanjärvi in Järvenpää, 38 kilometers north of Helsinki, the Finnish capital. It was designed by the famous architect Lars Sonck. The only requests Sibelius had for Sonck were to include both a lakefront view and a green fireplace in the dining room. Water pipes were never installed until after Sibelius died because he did not want the distraction while he was there composing. JEAN SIBELIUS |
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Reverse
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Depicts the neck of the composer's favourite instrument, the violin. The idea was that the composer looking at the starry sky at night is surrounded by complete silence. The composition, born in silence, comes to life with the violin on the reverse side. SUOMI FINLAND |
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Related coins
150th Anniversary of Birth of Jean Sibelius
Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm
