Let’s Talk About Money - Part 1
The euro has been the official currency of Estonia since the 1st of January 2011 so the memories of what currency was used in Estonia before may be long lost for some. Even if you are not a collector of old money, it is worth learning a bit about the Estonian crowns that preceded the euro to delve into a bit of the symbols that were considered so special to the country that they were used in such a daily setting.
The history of the Estonian crown stretches all the way back to the beginning of the 20th century. After Estonia gained independence in 1918, the Estonian mark was in circulation in 1928. Almost a century ago in 1928 the Estonian crown (kroon) was born, and it was in use until 1940. The kroon was reintroduced in 1992 after Estonia restored independence in 1991.
In this blog post we will focus on the denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 crowns that were used between 1992 and 2011. While these banknotes and coins were introduced in 1992, some still bore the printing date of 1991.
1 crown
The one crown banknote depicts Estonian artist Kristjan Raud, who designed the 10 banknote of the Estonian mark. He was a famous painter along with his brother Paul Raud. On the reverse side of the 1 crown banknote, you can see the Toompea Castle, which houses the Estonian Parliament. The 1 crown was only printed in 1992 and was nearly obsolete by 2011, as there was also a coin version of 1 crown.
2 crowns
The two crown banknote depicts Baltic German scientist Karl Ernst von Baer who made advances in embryology and permafrost research. Overall, he was very successful in many fields and even a duck called Baer's pochard has been named after him. The statue of Karl Ernst von Baer on Toome Hill in Tartu is important to local traditions as students wash the statue's head with drinks every Walpurgis Night. The reverse of the banknote depicts the University of Tartu.
5 crowns
The five crown banknote was last printed in 1994, so the notes in circulation had a more vintage feel to them. The front side is graced with chess grandmaster Paul Keres and the reverse depicts his hometown of Narva, specifically the Narva river as well as the Narva and Jaanilinna fortresses. Paul Keres is honored in yearly chess tournaments and a statue of him playing chess can be found in Narva.
10 crowns
The ten crown banknote depicts Estonian folklorist, linguist and theologian Jakob Hurt, who was one of the leading figures of the Estonian national awakening. He spearheaded the collection and scientific publication of Estonian folklore, and his legacy is recognized to this day. The reverse side of the banknote is dedicated to one of the most famous trees in Estonia - the Tamme-Lauri oak (Tamme-Lauri tamm). It is the thickest and oldest tree in Estonia and has been a protected landmark since 1939.
The Estonian crown banknotes give an insight into some of the most legendary symbols of Estonia, and they are a great starting point to learning more about Estonian history and culture.
Let us know in the comments or dedicated forum threads here if you know any of these symbols or have visited any of the places mentioned in this blog article. What is one symbol from the currency in your home country you would like to share with the community?
Don’t forget to check out part two of the series because we are only halfway done with introducing the Estonian crown banknotes!
Ingrid, OLS Community Manager – Estonian