Banks, Estonia, Financial Services, History

Altogether 750,000 coins will be minted and there will be 10,000 coin cards issued, which will sell for 10 euros each. The coin and coin card will go on sale at noon on Jan. 27 in the Omniva online shop and the coins and coin cards will be available from the central bank's museum from 10 a.m. on Jan. 28.

This year is the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica. This important historical event is linked to Estonia because one of the first men to see Antarctica in 1820 was the Baltic-German seafarer Fabian Gottlieb Benjamin von Bellingshausen, who was born in Saaremaa and who documented the discovery.

To commemorate this significant historical moment, the Bank of Estonia is issuing 750,000 two-euro circulation coins with a special Antarctica 200 design, of which 10,000 will be BU (brilliant uncirculated) quality and packaged as collector items on a coin card.

The two-euro commemorative coin dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica and the coin card were designed by the artists Tiiu Pirsko and Mati Veermets. The design shows the ship Vostok on which Admiral von Bellingshausen sailed around the world.

The official presentation of the Antarctica 200 commemorative coin and coin card will be held at the Paks Margareeta (Fat Margaret) tower at 70 Pikk Street, Tallinn, at noon on Jan. 27.