2 Euros Frans Eemil Sillanpää, Finland

A map, next to the face value, shows the European continent without borders.

Luc Luycx

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The inner part of the coin depicts Sillanpää's portrait. At the top, in a semi-circle, the words ‘F. E. SILLANPÄÄ’. At the left, the year ‘1888’ and the mintmark. At the right, the year ‘1964’, the indication of the issuing country ‘FI’ and the year of issuance ‘2013’. This is a special coin to commemorate the grandfather of a whole nation. F. E. SILLANPÄÄ was a master of style who brought deep insights about the relationship between people and nature into Finnish literature. He was awarded the Nobel prize in 1939 based in particular on the works Meek Heritage and The Maid Silja. This masterful author gained even more national renown with his popular radio appearances and memorable Christmas columns. 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’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.

Reijo Juhani Paavilainen

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Reeded with inscription