Finland 2015 5€ Uusimaa - Animals

The Animals of the Provinces series is the third coin series minted in honour of Finland’s historic provinces. The first collector coin of Uusimaa launched by Mint of Finland in 2011 takes you back in time, to when many Finns lived in industrial environment. For the Provincial buildings series, Uusimaa received in 2012 a coin commemorating the neoclassical Cathedral and Uspenski Cathedral, which represent the Byzantine-Russian architectural tradition and also communicate Helsinki’s role as a gateway between East and West.

Satakunta is one of nine historical provinces in Finland.

On the reverse side of the coin there is the historical province's coat of arms and the face value, 5 EURO.

The coin depicts the hedgehog.

The hedgehog, that prickly snuffler of our backyards, is the emblematic animal of Uusimaa. The hedgehog lives in urban areas, close to human habitation, and is a regular guest in many a yard. As a rule, hedgehogs go about by twilight and night. Despite its rotund and short-legged frame, the sympathetic hedgehog is an agile and fast runner. The hedgehog spread to Finland in the 19th century and is a protected species.

There are nine historical provinces in Finland: Åland, Tavastia, Karelia, Lapland, Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, Savo, Uusimaa and Finland Proper.