2018 Finland €10 Silver Proof Coin "Age of Baroque and Rococo" (Europa Star)

• Mint: Mint of Finland
• Denomination: €10
• Issue limit: 8,000
• Alloy: 92.5% Sterling Silver
• Diameter: 33 mm
• Weight: 17 grams
• Design:
• Holder/Capsule: Yes/Yes
• Certificate: Printed sleeve

Europa Star 2016-2020 is a five-year program bringing together mints from across the euro area for the issuance of collector silver proof coins. The themes selected for the series are inspired from Europe’s history, each year highlighting a different era:

2016 Modern 20th Century
2017 The Age of Iron and Glass
2018 Baroque and Rococo
2019 Renaissance
2020 Gothic

Mint of Finland has issued this coin as part of the Europa Star program. For 2018, the coin features the art which is part of the series “Ages of Europe - The Baroque & Rococo Periods” and the Europa Star program - an ongoing annual numismatic initiative begun in 2004. The present series has linked the eurozone bank notes and their individual themes or representations of art throughout the ages.

The 2016 series was dedicated to the age of modern 20th-century art (€500) with the 2017 series highlighting the age of glass and steel (€200). The 2018 series is representative of Baroque & Rococo art (€100).

The Baroque style, originating from 17th century Italy, brought extravagance and rich ornamentation to art and architecture. Its successor, the Rococo style, sought to achieve elegance and beauty and is principally identified with the French court of the 18th century.

The Baroque and the Rococo styles have found a Scandinavian interpretation in sea fortress Suomenlinna. The Baroque style is reflected in many parts of the Suomenlinna fortress and the decorative ideals of Rococo are reflected in the living areas of the fortress.

The reverse features the portrait of the architect of Suomenlinna, Augustin Ehrensvärd, and the cartographic image of the fortified island. The obverse has the common Europa Star symbol and Finland’s national Lion emblem.