Estonian euro coins
The Estonian euro coins are those of Estonia in circulation euro coins of the European currency Euro.
History of introduction
The introduction of the euro in Estonia - and thus the items pictured here - was earlier scheduled for mid- 2006. Since the inflation rate in May 2006 but was too high, Estonia could not go as planned to adopt the euro on 1 January 2007, the scheduled date was postponed to 2009, who was also not hold. Estonia, despite the financial and economic crisis achieve low debt and thus fulfills the Maastricht criteria. On 12 May 2010, the European Commission has confirmed that Estonia would meet all criteria for adoption of the euro in early 2011. On June 17, 2010, the EU Heads of State and Government agreed to the inclusion of Estonia to the euro zone. On 1 January 2011, Estonia became the 17th member of the euro zone.
Design of the coins
The backs of the Estonian euro coins all have the same design that was designed by Lembit Lõhmus. It represents the outline map of Estonia dar. The design shows the mandatory twelve stars of the EU, the year of issue and the country's name EESTI. The artist of the draft justified his choice of subject so that there are only a few countries in Europe that have such an attractive and memorable contour as Estonia - the symbol is easy to remember.
But the subject is equal only at first glance. While looks in detail at the cent coins Estonia, it is characterized exalted in the euro coins. Also, on the two - euro coin in addition two small islands, Vaindloo and Nootamaa, Estonia northernmost or westernmost point, to see.
On selection for determining the Münzrückseite the Estonian population could mitbeteiligen. By televoting had the Estonians between 4 and 11 December 2004, the possibility to opt for a proposed ten of the Eesti Pank designs. The winning design, which was obtained with 27.46 %, the highest number of votes, was announced on 17 December 2004.
2- euro commemorative coins
→ Main article: 2- euro commemorative coins
Estonia has not issued until the following day 2 euro commemorative coins:
- 2012: 10 Years of Euro Cash ( Community coin of the Euro Group)
Mints
After the request of Estonia to the coinage of the Estonian euro coins in all 15 previous Mints that have the license to mint euro coins, laid the five mints Suomen Rahapaja (Finland), Royal Mint ( UK ), the State Mint of Baden -Württemberg ( Germany ), coin Austria ( Austria ) and the Monnaie de Paris ( France) before their offer and thus competed for the job.
In November 2005, the Estonian National Bank decided for offering the Rahapaja as these demanded the lowest price for producing the required 100 million euro coins for Estonia. End of July 2010 was started with the minting of the first euro coins.
The coin of 2012 were marked by the Royal Dutch Mint, the 2- euro commemorative coin 10 years of euro cash by the State Mint in Berlin.
Diplomatic upset with Russia
Due to the design of the coins came to upsets with Estonia neighbor Russia. The Russian press claimed that the outline shown on the back of Euro coins Estonia embrace and Russian territories. The Russian Embassy in Tallinn spoke of a renewed attempt " to revise the existing borders."
The Russian press reports are wrong, however, as a comparison with the naked eye results. The Estonian design from the start, the present boundary line dar. Also the Estonian ambassador to Russia said that the map show the actual boundaries of Estonia.
Background is a conflict between Estonia and Russia over the country's borders. Both countries are indeed agree on border demarcation, but not on the basis of the Russian acquisition of territory formerly Estonian areas that had lost the Estonian SSR in the Soviet times. Estonia 's international law from a transfer of territory to Russia. Russia relies, however, that the limits apply, as they existed at the breakup of the Soviet Union ( Uti possidetis - principle).