Swan - Finland's national bird

Issued year - 2011, October

200th anniversary of the Bank of Finland

These 3 finnish UNC commemorative coins depicted in the image were sent by Noora from Finland, in exchange for 3 other commemorative coins, in our last in the begining of the year.

This original coin to mark the Bank of Finland’s 200th anniversary, which was designed by the artist Hannu Veijalainen, depicts Finland’s national bird, the swan.
In addition, the inner part of the coin bears the dates “2011”, the year of issue, and “1811”, the year in which Emperor Alexander I of Russia decreed that an “Exchange, Lending and Deposit Office” was to be established in Turku, Finland. It was Finland’s first bank and eventually became the Bank of Finland, which moved to Helsinki in 1819.

Issuing volume: 1.500.000

TYE - 10th anniversary of euro banknotes and coins

Issued year - 2012, February

Brought yesterday...

"Ten years ago, on 1 January 2002, euro banknotes and coins were introduced in 12 Member States of the European Union. The introduction of the euro cash was an unprecedented challenge, but it went smoothly, and billions of banknotes and coins started to circulate in a matter of days. Five more Member States have adopted the euro in recent years, so a total of 17 Member States – and 332 million people – now use the currency. It has become a symbol of Europe, and the banknotes and coins have become a part of our daily lives."

The original desing symbolises the way in which the euro has become a true global player over the past ten years, as well as its importance in day-to-day life, with various aspects being depicted: ordinary people (the family of four), trade (the ship), industry (the factory) and energy (the wind power stations).

Issuing volume: 500.000

Unitá D'Italia!

Issuance year - 2011, March

150th anniversary of the unification of Italy

One more coin depicted in the image as a result of a recent exchange with Miguel, from Madrid, Spain. He sent this Italian and the 5 commemorative in background and also some currency Estonian and Spanish coins.

The inner part of the coin shows, in the centre, three Italian flags fluttering in the wind, to mark three past periods of 50 years each – the periods ending in 1911, 1961 and 2011 respectively - in illustration of a perfect link between generations: this is the logo of the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. Written in a semi-circle along the upper outer edge around the three flags is the inscription “150° DELL’ UNITÁ D’ITALIA” (150th anniversary of the unification of Italy).

See last and next posts.

aa Issuing volume: 10.000.000

Two to Tango!

Issuance year - 2011, March

For our third swap, Miguel C. from Madrid, Spain, sent me some currency and the commemorative coins depicted in the image, including these 2 UNC 2011 Spanish "Court of the Lions", in exchange of  several UNC portuguese commemorative "Fernão Mendes Pinto" coins.

It depicts the Court of the Lions in the Alhambra, the fortified castle in the city of Granada, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.
The Court of the Lions is the main court of the Nasrid dynasty Palace of the Lions, in the heart of the Alhambra, the Moorish citadel formed by a complex of palaces, gardens and forts. It was commissioned by the Nasrid sultan Muhammed V of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus. Its construction started in the second period of his reign, between 1362 and 1391 AD.
Issuing volume: 7.927.000
See last 2 posts.

Let's play!

Issuance year - 2011, June

30th anniversary of the Day of Music

30e anniversaire Fête de la Musique

Another coin sent by Miguel, from Madrid, in our last swap. In a total of 6 commemorative coins, this one  shows a cheerful crowd, with a stylised image of a musical instrument and notes floating in the air, denoting the atmosphere of celebration on the Day of Music, which has been celebrated every summer solstice in France since 1981. 

Issuing volume: 10.000.000

Astonishing

Issuance year - 2011, March

100th anniversary of the birth of Franc Rozman-Stane

Depicted in the image, all the coins (15) sent by Miguel, from Madrid, Spain, in exchange for the newest commemorative portuguese coins - Fernão Mendes Pinto, in our last swap last month. In the foreground, one of the commemorative ones, the original and astonishing Slovenian 2011 commemorative coin.

The inner part of the coin bears a stylised image of Franc Rozman-Stane, general in the High Command of the Slovene partisan army and a national hero of Slovenia.

Muchas Gracias, Miguel.

Issuing volume: 1.000.000

See next posts

2 and 1 roll (25)

Issued year - 2011, September

FERNÃO MENDES PINTO - 500th Anniversary of the birth

All the coins depicted in the image were brought today, from the Portugal Bank treasury. Fernão Mendes Pinto left Lisbon in 1537 and embarked on an extraordinary voyage around the coast of Africa, India, Sumatra, Zion, Cambodia, China and Japan, a feat that personified the spirit of the portuguese explorers who set sail on adventures to expand the horizons of the world. His book "Peregrinação" (pilgrimage), published posthumously in 1614, is the story of this exceptional journey through the lands of the Orient, during which Fernão Mendes Pinto was a trader, a chronicler, a Jesuit, a pirate and an ambassador «thirteen times captured and seventeen sold», in a succession of prodigies, marvels and adventures that combined reality and fantasy, dazzling a sixteenth century Europe thirsty for tales and stories about far-flung peoples and places.
The inner part of the coin depicts a sailing ship floating on a sea formed by a series of wave-shaped references to Portugal, Lisbon, his book and some of the destinations of his travels, With the country designation “Portugal” centred beneath them. His name flanked by the dates “1511” and “2011” form a semicircle around the upper edge of the inner part.


At the moment, several coins are available to swap
Issuing volume: 500.000

Portuguese Explorers...

Issued year - 2011, May

Hermenegildo Capelo and Roberto Ivens - European Explorers

Depicted in the image, one more coin that one good portuguese friend, Mr. Joaquim, gave me, last month, directly from the Bank of Portugal. The obverse of this original coin features the 2 famous portuguese explorers, Hermenegildo Capelo and Roberto Ivens, legend "Exploradores Europeus" and the Logotip from Europe serie. The Reverse shows one Africa tree, the facial value, National arms and date. In the last quarter of the 19th century, under the auspices of the Lisbon Geographical Society, Hermenegildo Capelo (1847-1917) and Roberto Ivens (1850-1898) embarked on two of the most notable expeditions in the history of humanity; first from Benguela to the lands of Laca, and then from Angola to Contracosta. Their intention was to explore the African interior, more specifically the territories lying between the provinces of Angola and Mozambique, showing that the Portuguese will to "bring new worlds to the World" did not dry up after the Voyages of Discovery.During these expeditions, Hermenegildo Capelo and Roberto Ivens performed geographical and cartographic surveys and collected meteorological data and many natural history specimens that contributed a lot to increasing scientific knowledge at the time.

See also last Post

Historic and military coin

Issued year - 2011, May

100th anniversary of the pupils of the Army College

A portuguese friend, Mr. Joaquim, got me this original coin (and the one from next Post) directly from the Bank of Portugal. Only 100.000 of this magnificent 2,5 € coin have been issued. The Pupilos do Exército (Pupils of the Army) institute was created in May 1911. Throughout its 100 years of existence it has been part of the history and evolution of education in Portugal, in its role as an institute dedicated to the physical and intellectual training of citizens, in accordance with its motto - "Where there's a will there's a way".Its excellence in education, marked by the characteristic strictness, methods and discipline of a military institution, is universally acknowledged and has received several decorations, specifically that of Commander of the Military Order of Christ.The Portuguese Mint and Official Printing Office is joining the celebrations for the centenary of the Pupilos do Exército Institute by minting this commemorative coin bearing the barretina and the sword, symbols of the school and of its links to the Military Academy.


See also next post

Charming "military" coin

Issued year - 2010, November

Bicentenary of Linhas de Torres defensive line

Only 120.000 of this 2,5 € coin have been issued. Once again, Alexandra Vieira, a work mate, gave me this coin, still in 2010. This issue celebrates the bicentenary of the Linhas de Torres defensive line. The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807 and then in 1808 turned on its ally, Spain. The war lasted until the Sixth Coalition defeated Napoleon in 1814. British and Portuguese forces secured Portugal - with last-line fortifications known as Linhas de Torres (the fortress line) - using it as a secure position from which to launch campaigns against the French army. Combined, the regular and irregular allied forces prevented Napoleon's marshals from subduing the rebellious provinces.

2011 - GREAT

Issued year - 2011, January

2Oth Anniversary of the Foundation of the Visegrad Group

One more coin sent by Noora, from Finland, as the result of our last coin swap. This original 2011 Slovakia coin design shows the map of the member states Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, the logo of the Visegrad Group, the inscriptions "Vysehradská Skupina" and "Visegrad Group" as well as the date of the founding "15-02-1991".

The Visegrad Group, also called the Visegrad Four or V4, is an alliance of these 4 central European States, for the purposes of cooperation and furthering their Europe integration.

Issuing volume: 981.000

See last posts

Finnish collector, finnish fabulous coins...

Issued year - 2010, October

"Currency Decree of 1860 granting Finland the right to issue banknotes and coins"

Due to our last swap, Noora, from Finland, also sent me these two fabulous and rare Finnish coins. The original design of the coin shows a stylised lion figure from the coat of arms of Finland on the left side and a set of numbers on the right side. Thanks, Noora.

Issuing volume: 1.600.000
See last and the next post

17th member - Estonia

One new collector, Noora from Finland, sent me all the depicted coins in the image, in exchange for a trade. Among others she sent me this magnificent and new 2 € 2011 Estonian currency coin. My first coin of the 17th country of the Euro zone.

Thanks Noora.
The Baltic state of Estonia has become the 17th member of the eurozone, since 1 January 2011. It is the first former Soviet republic to join the single currency club. This beautiful coin features a silhouette map of Estonia together with the word Eesti (Estonia) and twelve stars, symbolic of the European Union, surrounding the map.

See next posts.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Issued year - 2009, January

Finally the last missing EMU coin. This finnish EMU (economic and monetary union) coin and the other depicted in the image were sent by George from Greece, in our last swap at the end of 2010.

In January 2009, the sixteen euro-area countries jointly issued a commemorative euro coin to celebrate ten years of Economic and Monetary Union and the launch of the euro.

See the last post

Issuing volume: 1.400.000

Finish coins....

Issued year - 2005, October

60th anniversary of the United Nations and 50th anniversary of Finland's membership of the UN

These 2 finnish commemorative coins depicted in the image were sent by George from Greece, in our last swap in 2010.

In the centre of this original coin are parts of a jigsaw puzzle showing a dove of peace.

See the next post.

Issuing volume: 2.000.000