Finland 2015 5€ Tavastia - 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 Tavastia launched by Mint of Finland in 2011 speak of a tradition of life out in the wild. For the Provincial buildings series, Tavastia received in 2013 a coin commemorating a place, Church of St. Lawrence, where the people of Tavastia have congregated for more than a millennium.

Tavastia 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 lynx.

The lynx, best known for its ear tufts and spotted coat, is the emblematic animal of Tavastia. The animal is rarely seen since it is mostly nocturnal and moves without making a sound. Finland’s only wild feline prefers rocky forest terrain. Finnish lynx populations have rebounded in recent decades thanks to the protected status of the species.

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