1 Euro - Finland

The Finnish 1 Euro coin from 2002 is one of the few Euro designs that draws directly from a medieval heraldic symbol: the lion rampant, which Finland inherited from its time under Swedish rule in the 16th century.

This coin was minted in Helsinki as part of the Euro's initial rollout, with the reverse side featuring that iconic lion alongside the year and the twelve stars of the European Union. The outer ring is nickel brass, while the center is cupronickel, making it a bimetallic piece that's held up well in circulation. We don't have exact mintage figures for this specific issue, as Euro production records can be inconsistent, but it's known to be a standard circulation coin.

The design, while straightforward, nods to Finland's long history without the usual embellishments. No one quite knows why the lion sometimes appears more stylized in later issues, but that's numismatics for you.