2013 Finland €2 Coin Issue "F.E. Sillanpää 125 Years"

• Mint: Mint of Finland
• Denomination: €2
• Quality: UNC/Proof
• Issue limit: 1.489M/11K
• Alloy: Base Metal
• Diameter: 25.75 mm
• Weight: 8.5 grams
• Design: Reijo Paavilainen (obverse), Pekka Rytkönen (reverse)
• Box/Capsule: Proof only/Proof only
• Certificate: Proof only

Additional Information

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Issued on November 4, this coin celebrates the 125th anniversary of author F.E. Sillanpää.

F.E. Sillanpää understood nature as part of the Finnish character and, like the Finnish people, the characters in Sillanpää’s classic works knew that even in the midst of difficulties the most important thing is to stay honest to oneself. Sillanpää won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1939. After the war years, the master writer evolved into the long-bearded “Taata”, the unofficial grandfather to the country. From recollections of his childhood Christmases emerged a well-loved tradition: Grandpa gathered the whole nation devoutly around their radios with his easy-going Christmas “talks”. Sillanpää is best remembered for his works The Maid Silja/Fallen Asleep While Young (1931) and Meek Heritage (1919).

The design of this coin is based on the visions of two different artists. The obverse features the familiar figure of Grandpa with his skullcap, as interpreted by Reijo Paavilainen. The reverse depicts Pekka Rytkönen’s fantastic view of the poetic side of rural life.