Can I buy one and two cent coins from the Bank of Finland?
The Bank of Finland does not sell banknotes or coins for numismatic or other such purposes. This also applies to one and two cent coins.
The Bank of Finland is the Finnish monetary authority, and its tasks related to cash are defined in law. These tasks pertain exclusively to currency as legal tender. The Bank issues euro banknotes and coins and ensures their authenticity, quality and adequacy. It is also obligated to redeem annulled banknotes and coins within ten years of the date of annulment.
In Finland, all official metallic currency is struck by The Mint of Finland Ltd, owned by the Finnish state. The Mint of Finland designs, markets and mints money as ordered from various central banks and ministries of finance the world over. It produces metallic currency, commemorative and special-issue coins and coin sets.
The Mint of Finland's products can be ordered from the company's outlet store operating on its website or via distributors. The website contains information on metallic currency and the company's activities. The Mint of Finland's customer service answers questions regarding coins.
Many shops, cafés and flea markets frequented by tourists sell 1 and 2 cent coins.
The Mint of Finland's customer service:
info (at )suomenrahapaja.fi
tel. +358 9 8943 4343
Where can I buy coins for collectors (for example, one and two cent coins)?
In Finland, all official metallic currency is struck by The Mint of Finland Ltd, owned by the Finnish state. The Mint of Finland designs, markets and mints money as ordered from various central banks and ministries of finance the world over. It produces metallic currency, commemorative and special-issue coins and coin sets.
The Mint of Finland's products can be ordered from the company's outlet store operating on its website or via distributors. The website contains information on metallic currency and the company's activities. The Mint of Finland's customer service answers questions regarding coins.
Many shops, cafés and flea markets frequented by tourists sell one and two cent coins.
The Mint of Finland's customer service:
info (at ) suomenrahapaja.fi
tel. +358 9 8943 4343
What is the €2 commemorative coin?
Each euro area member state can issue a €2 commemorative coin once a year. These coins have the same technical features and the same common side as normal €2 coins. What makes them different is their commemorative design on the national side.
Only the €2 denomination can be used for these types of commemorative coins. They are legal tender throughout the euro area, meaning that they can be used just like any other euro coin, and the recipient of a payment is obliged to accept them.
ECB: A list of commemorative coins
http://www.ecb.int/euro/coins/comm/html/index.en.html
Where can I receive information on commemorative coins?
Decisions on minting commemorative coins are taken by the Ministry of Finance. Helping it carry out this activity, the Ministry has set up a Collector Coin Committee, composed of representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Finland, The Mint of Finland, as well as representatives of the arts and culture. The Committee organises competitions for the design of commemorative coins to artists living in Finland. The Mint of Finland manufactures all Finnish commemorative coins as ordered by the Finnish Ministry of Finance.
Commemorative coins are intended as gifts, memorabilia and collectibles reflecting contemporary events. Commemorative coins pass on Finnish values, as they are minted to celebrate Finnish persons or events of great significance. An official decree is published on each Finnish commemorative coin. Such decrees accord official status, ie face value, to commemorative coins, thereby rendering all commemorative coins legal tender in Finland. As their sales prices are normally higher than their face values, commemorative coins are seldom used for making payments.
More information on commemorative coins minted in Finland is available on The Mint of Finland's website. Finnish commemorative coins may be purchased via The Mint of Finland's outlet store operating on its website. The Mint of Finland's customer service answers questions regarding commemorative coins.
The Mint of Finland's customer service:
info (at) suomenrahapaja.fi
tel. +358 9 8943 4343
Where can I receive numismatic advice?
A good source is the book Suomen rahat – The Coins and Banknotes of Finland, published in 2003 and written by Tuukka Talvio, Ph.D., the curator of the Coin Cabinet of the National Museum of Finland, with the Bank of Finland as the publisher.
The publication discusses the history of the Finnish markka throughout its entire lifespan, but the book also deals with Finland's earlier monetary history. In addition, it contains a description of the design and introduction of euro banknotes and coins.
The book has been written from the viewpoint of the history of civilisation. It includes descriptions of the designs as well as national symbols and other pictorial motifs presented on the banknotes and coins. The book contains high-quality colour pictures of all types of banknotes and coins issued by the Bank of Finland.
The book is sold in bookstores and the Bank of Finland Museum.
Information on collector coins can also be requested from numismatic coin clubs and coin dealers.
Bank of Finland Museum
http://www.rahamuseo.fi/english