Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Transport

Bank of Estonia cash and security department head Rait Roosve told the press on Friday preparations for the minting, including test coins, will be completed by the beginning of July this year. Should the EU finance ministers meeting yield a final “yes” to Estonia’s euro aspirations on July 6, the minting work can start the next day.

Estonian euro coins are designed by Lembit Lõhmus and they depict the contour of Estonia’s map.

Roosve said that the coins to be sent in circulation will weigh 600 tonnes and they can be transported by ships that sail between Estonia and Finland.

Roosve said that one truck can transport 20-22 tonnes of coins, meaning around 30 truckloads altogether.

According to initial plans, the central bank will start distributing coins to banks already in September. The euro will come in use in Estonia on January 1, 2011 and for two weeks it is used simultaneously with the kroon. After that, only the euro remains.