Finland · 100th anniversary of self-government in the Åland region

Issue date13 Aug 2021

Total mintage800,000

EU maximum800,000

Editions4

Edge letteringSUOMI FINLAND + 3 lion heads

Inscription100 JAHRE SELBSTVERWALTUNG DER ÅLANDINSELN / 100 JAHRE SELBSTVERWALTUNG DER ÅLANDINSELN / 2021 FI

DesignerUlrika Kjeldsen

mintSuomen Rahapaja OY, Vantaa, Finnland

Issue occasion

The coin commemorates 100 years of self-government of the Åland Islands. The design shows an archipelago landscape with a waterway marked by buoys, the bow of a boat and a compass held by a hand; the sky and clouds are depicted above. The inscription states the occasion in Finnish and Swedish.

The design

The coin design depicts the archipelago landscape in embossed forms. In the lower half of the coin design, a waterway with buoys, the bow of a boat and a compass held by a hand can be seen. The horizontal centre of the inner part of the coin is marked by the waterline. The upper half shows the sky and clouds. Along the lower edge, the inscription “100 YEARS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT OF THE ÅLAND ISLANDS” is arranged in a semicircle in Finnish. Along the upper edge, the inscription “100 YEARS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT OF THE ÅLAND ISLANDS” is arranged in a semicircle in Swedish. The inscriptions are separated in the centre by two small diamonds, one on the left and one on the right. Above the right-hand diamond is the inscription “2021 FI”, and above the left-hand diamond is the mint mark of the Finnish Mint.

The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.

Background on the topic

Åland lies between mainland Finland and Sweden. The population is predominantly Swedish-speaking; today, the archipelago forms a monolingually Swedish-speaking, autonomous region of Finland. Its special constitutional status arose after the collapse of the Russian Empire. Finland declared its independence in 1917, while a movement for union with Sweden formed on Åland. Finland, however, did not want to relinquish the strategically located archipelago.

To resolve the conflict, Finland adopted a Self-Government Act in 1920. As this initially failed to convince the movement for union, the so-called Åland question was submitted to the League of Nations. In 1921, it decided that Finland should retain state sovereignty. At the same time, Finland had to guarantee the preservation of the Swedish language, culture and local traditions. The international settlement also confirmed the demilitarized and neutralized status of the archipelago. The demilitarization dates back to an agreement concluded after the Crimean War in the 19th century.

Self-government is exercised through the Ålandic parliament, the Lagting, and its own regional government. Åland can enact its own laws in several internal matters, including education, culture, healthcare, local government and environmental protection. Foreign policy, defense and large parts of civil and criminal law, by contrast, remain matters for the Finnish state. Åland also sends its own representative to the Finnish Parliament.

The first Ålandic parliament convened on 9 June 1922. Self-Government Day is commemorated annually on this date. The 2021 commemorative issue, by contrast, refers to the international and political consolidation of autonomy in 1921. The occasion thus represents not only a regional administrative arrangement, but also a historic compromise: Finland’s territorial integrity remained intact, while the Swedish-speaking population received far-reaching guarantees and its own political institutions.