The Mint of Finland have unveiled a new series of coins dedicated to the animals of the provinces of Finland.

The Mint of Finland began minting provincial coins in 2010. In 2012–2013, the series depicted the landmark buildings of Finland’s historic provinces, while the coins minted in 2010–2011 featured traditional livelihoods and provincial culture along with the crests or, coats of arms of each province. Following in the successes of the provincial buildings series and the historical provinces series, the new coins focus on the wildlife found in the country with startling images featured on the obverse sides.

The first two coins in the series will open with the provinces of Karelia and Savonia being represented.

The obverse sides of provincial animal coins are designed by Erkki Vainio and reverse sides by Nora Tapper.

The Karelians' provincial animal coin depicts the cuckoo, behind which opens a traditional Karelian lake vista. The cuckoo coin is most beautiful in proof quality. It is a timid bird thatis rarely sighted, since it is most comfortablehiding in the dense boughs oftrees. Everyone recognises the cuckoo’ssong, though. The Finnish people have attached many beliefs to its cuckooingthroughout the ages. For example, a person’sremaining years have been countedby the cuckoo’s first summer song.