Finland: Designing and Recycling

(Click the arrow above the quote arrow to see where it is from)

Yes, the Latvian "special" 1 lats coins are neat (see here, and I have most of them. The current circulating commems ... well, only one has been issued so far (the "Riga" €2 coin) but I like that one too.

Now Finland has some great designs (this one for example I have always found intriguing), but lately the mint seems to "recycle" its designs sometimes. Here is a collector coin (images from the mint) that was issued for the 200th anniversary of the central bank:



Then they decided to issue a €2 commem on the same occasion. In my opinion the "twoer" looks OK too - but how are people (especially in the euro area outside Finland) supposed to know what it is about?



This year the mint did something similar. They honored the designer Ilmari Tapiovaara by issuing this collector coin, fine. The €2 commem looks
like this. I am not happy.

Christian

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

That's the best coin design I think I ever saw.

 

Yes, that one I like. But the link or joint (not sure what the right English word is) depicted on the €2 coin is definitely not a favorite of mine.

Christian

 

I don't mind repetitive designs, especially when grouping various denominations under the same topic or theme. When a design makes you want to find out more about about a coin, I consider it a success. The Finnish coins continue to emphasize the importance of legend, mint mark, date and simplicity in design. That is what circulation coins are known for. I respect that.

 

I call it a "link" (at least in my Minnesota-English), short for "hyperlink". But "hyperlink" is sooo 1999, so don't use that word when using English, unless you want to sound like a "square".

And I do like the designs on these Finnish coins. I could call them "minimalist", but what exactly makes something "minimal"? Minimalism can be profound, but profundity isn't "simple", is it? Minimalism confounds me...

 

At least the USA never, hick, regurgitates designs

 

Makes sense, and I basically agree. I have, or know about, quite a few coins with designs that make you want to learn more about them. But please, artists and mints, copying a portion of a design used before is not quite the same as making a new design.

That would apply to the Suomen Pankki coin. Now the Tapiovaara coins are better, I think, because the €2 design is not simply a partial copy of the €10 and €20 designs. As I wrote, the chair on the silver pieces I like. But the depicted link depicted on the €2 piece is something that, as far as I know, carpenters/joiners have done long before him.

Christian

 

and this is why I enjoy world coins so much more. endless variety.

 

the golden goose is cool.

 

Just do what most people in the world do - consider US coins to be world coins. Voilà, problem solved.

Christian

 

As antiquated as the designs are, what with long dead politicians - more like third world coins.

 

Still, for people around here, coins from the US are "world coins". And yes, of course there is more variety in the coins from a few hundred countries than in those from just one country.

Christian