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On October 30, 2025, Eesti Pank (Bank of Estonia) will issue a silver collector coin that not only commemorates a historic event, but also pays tribute to a generation that fought for ideals greater than themselves. It is dedicated to the Finnish Children, or Soomepoisid, young Estonians who, during World War II, crossed the Gulf of Finland to join the Finnish army as volunteers. They fought in the Winter War and the Continuation War , shoulder to shoulder with their northern neighbors, in a desperate attempt to resist Soviet expansion.
For Estonia, this issue is much more than a coin: it's an act of remembrance. It's also the first coin in a new series that Eesti Pank has decided to dedicate to the Resistance, a concept that in Estonian history is steeped in sacrifice, courage, and a deep yearning for freedom.
The silver coin, with a face value of 15 euros, was designed by Kaupo Kangro, an Estonian architect and designer who on this occasion has managed to transform history into image. The coin elegantly merges the flags of Finland and Estonia, a gesture that encapsulates the brotherhood that united the two peoples during Europe's darkest years. The reverse depicts a snowy, rocky landscape in which men advance resolutely, marching towards an uncertain destiny but guided by a firm conviction. Above them rises the Cross of Liberty, a symbol of Estonian military valor, which is also present on the Finnish Cross of Liberty.
The obverse of the coin features the large coat of arms of the Republic of Estonia alongside the motto adopted by the Finnish Children: "For the honor of Estonia and to secure the future!" A short but powerful phrase that encapsulates the determination of those who, as youngsters, decided to fight for the dignity of their country without carrying their own flag, but with it in their hearts.
Country Estonia
Year of issue 2025
Issue date October 30th
Face value 15 euros
Diameter 38.61 mm
Weight 28.28 g
Alloy 925 silver
Quality Proof
Print run 4,000
Designer Kaupo Kangro
Coinage Mint of Lithuania
But behind the beauty of this piece lies a story worth telling. Between 1939 and 1944, more than 3,500 Estonians —mostly young men—joined Finland to fight the Red Army. Their motivation was neither political nor opportunistic, but deeply patriotic: fighting for Finland was, in a sense, fighting for Estonia. When some returned to their homeland in 1944, they took up arms again, this time to defend their own soil, although fate was not kind to them. The Soviet occupation continued for decades.
Even so, their gesture was not forgotten. The Soomepoisids symbolize the dignity of a small country that refused to surrender. For decades, their name was whispered with respect and emotion; today, it is a fundamental part of the national memory. The death of the last of them in Estonia in 2024 marked the end of a living generation, but not of their legacy.
That's why this coin is so special: it not only remembers the fighters, but also keeps the flame of their cause alive . The "Resistance" series, which begins with this issue, promises to recount, one by one, the stories of those who defended Estonia's freedom against much more powerful forces.
A small coin, cold to the touch, may seem insignificant compared to the magnitude of history. But in this case, each engraved line, each chosen symbol, is a silent tribute to those who made the word resistance more than an ideal: they turned it into a way of life.
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