Finland 2014 5€ Karelia - Animals

The Animals of the Provinces series is the third coin series minted in honour of Finland’s historic provinces. The 2013 Karelian coin paid tribute to the Imatrankoski rapids, and the 2011 coin honoured the Karelian tradition of birch-bark crafts.
Karelia 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 the cuckoo, behind which opens a traditional Karelian lake vista.

It is a timid bird that is rarely sighted, since it is most comfortable hiding in the dense boughs of trees. Everyone recognises the cuckoo’s song, though. The Finnish people have attached many beliefs to its cuckooing throughout the ages. For example, a person’s remaining years have been counted by the cuckoo’s first summer song.

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