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Finland issued its first commemorative €2 coin of 2026 today, May 21st. This issue is dedicated to the centenary of Yleisradio, better known as Yle, the Finnish public broadcaster. The coin, titled “100 Years of Finnish Broadcasting,” commemorates the founding of an institution that, since 1926, has been a part of the daily lives of several generations of Finns.
Unlike other commemorative €2 issues, this piece will not be for general circulation , but will only be sold in different formats to collectors. The issue comes during Yle's commemorative year, which will officially celebrate its centenary on September 9, 2026.
Yleisradio was founded in 1926 as a small radio station in Helsinki, under the name Suomen Yleisradio. Those first radio broadcasts were the beginning of a journey that would soon extend throughout the country. By 1928, its broadcasts reached all of Finland, and in the 1930s, around 100,000 homes could listen to its programs. Decades later came television: Suomen Televisio's trials began in 1957, the precursor to what would later become Yle TV1.
Today, Yle is one of the country's major media pillars. The public broadcaster offers national television channels, radio stations, digital services, and an extensive regional network, while also playing a significant cultural and social role in Finland.
The design of this 2-euro coin was created by Petri Neuvonen, an artist who has previously worked on other Finnish issues. His design offers a very contemporary perspective on the role of public media in modern society.
According to the official explanation, the design represents so-called "information bubbles," those closed environments where many people consume only information aligned with their ideas or interests. In contrast, public broadcasting appears as an element capable of breaking down these barriers and bringing society closer to shared knowledge.
The national motif appears surrounded by the twelve stars of the European Union, while the common side retains the usual design used on the eurozone's 2 euro coins.
An issue exclusively for collectors
Although it is a 2-euro coin, Finland has not planned its distribution through the regular monetary system. All pieces will be sold directly in numismatic formats, something that has become relatively common in recent years for certain Finnish issues.
The total mintage amounts to 180,000 coins, distributed between coincards, Proof version and numismatic rolls.
Presentation Print run
Issue priceCoincard BU EN 50,000 €12.50
Coincard BU FI/SE 50,000 €12.50
Proof quality coin 5,000 €32.50
Rolls of 25 coins 3,000 rolls / 75,000 coins €235.00
Coincard BU EN
The first presentation is a BU quality coincard with English text, primarily intended for the international market. The card features an image of an old radio, a direct reference to Yle's beginnings and the early days of Finnish broadcasting.
The second coincard maintains the same design but incorporates texts in Finnish and Swedish, the country's two official languages. This variant particularly reflects the national character of the issue and Yleisradio's own historical identity.
The Proof version is the most meticulously crafted and limited edition of this issue. With only 5,000 pieces, it features the classic mirror finish characteristic of Proof coins, with a striking contrast between the background and the relief.
The issue also includes 3,000 rolls of 25 coins each, equivalent to 75,000 pieces. Although the coins technically retain their circulating capacity, these rolls are intended directly for the collector market and not for regular bank distribution.
With this coin, Finland inaugurates its 2026 numismatic program with an issue closely linked to the country's contemporary history. Beyond commemorating Yle's anniversary, the piece also serves as a reflection on the role of public media in an era marked by information fragmentation and digital content consumption.
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