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CC 500 2023
Coin set
Proof
Coin set proof
Finland · Social and health services as a guarantee of citizens’ well-being
Mintage1,500
Issue date7 Aug 2023
PackagingCoin set
Edge letteringSUOMI FINLAND + 3 lion heads
Price of the set (2 coins)€105.90
Issue occasion
The commemorative coin is dedicated to social and health services. The design features a stylized map of Finland and, to its left, the word “WELL-BEING” in Finnish and Swedish. It also includes the year of issue, the abbreviation “FI” and the mark of the Mint of Finland.
The design
A stylized map of Finland is depicted. On the left, the inscription “WELL-BEING” is embossed in Finnish and Swedish. The year of issue “2023” is positioned slightly to the left of the centre of the coin. The abbreviation of the issuing state, “FI”, is shown at the bottom, and the mark of the Mint of Finland is located on the right.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.
Background on the topic
Finland’s social and healthcare services are part of the Nordic welfare state model. Their aim is to make medical care and social support generally accessible regardless of income. Public services are financed predominantly through taxes. Healthcare includes, among other things, health centres, hospitals, preventive care, mental health services and elderly care. Social services include, for example, child and family services, services for people with disabilities, support for people in need of care and social work. In addition, occupational and private healthcare services are available.
The system developed gradually, particularly during the expansion of the Finnish welfare state after the Second World War. For a long time, municipalities were responsible for organising most services. The establishment of municipal health centres from the 1970s onwards was intended to reduce regional and social differences in access to care. However, the sparse population in large parts of the country, an ageing population and differences in the financial resources of municipalities increasingly posed organisational problems for this model.
At the beginning of 2023, a comprehensive administrative reform entered into force. Responsibility for social and healthcare services as well as rescue services was transferred in most of the country from the municipalities to 21 so-called wellbeing services counties (Wohlfahrtsgebiete). These have elected regional councils and are financed mainly by the state. Helsinki continues to organise its services independently; there is also a joint organisation for specialised hospital care in the Helsinki region. Due to its autonomy, Åland has its own regulations.
The issue was therefore released in a year in which responsibility for Finland’s care system was fundamentally reorganised. It does not commemorate an individual person, a building or a historical anniversary, but addresses a joint governmental and municipal responsibility. At the same time, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of staff in nursing, medicine and social work received increased public attention. The occasion can therefore be understood both as a tribute to these professional groups and as a reference to the social responsibility of providing care. The use of the two national languages also refers to the legal entitlement to receive public services in Finnish and Swedish.
The system developed gradually, particularly during the expansion of the Finnish welfare state after the Second World War. For a long time, municipalities were responsible for organising most services. The establishment of municipal health centres from the 1970s onwards was intended to reduce regional and social differences in access to care. However, the sparse population in large parts of the country, an ageing population and differences in the financial resources of municipalities increasingly posed organisational problems for this model.
At the beginning of 2023, a comprehensive administrative reform entered into force. Responsibility for social and healthcare services as well as rescue services was transferred in most of the country from the municipalities to 21 so-called wellbeing services counties (Wohlfahrtsgebiete). These have elected regional councils and are financed mainly by the state. Helsinki continues to organise its services independently; there is also a joint organisation for specialised hospital care in the Helsinki region. Due to its autonomy, Åland has its own regulations.
The issue was therefore released in a year in which responsibility for Finland’s care system was fundamentally reorganised. It does not commemorate an individual person, a building or a historical anniversary, but addresses a joint governmental and municipal responsibility. At the same time, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of staff in nursing, medicine and social work received increased public attention. The occasion can therefore be understood both as a tribute to these professional groups and as a reference to the social responsibility of providing care. The use of the two national languages also refers to the legal entitlement to receive public services in Finnish and Swedish.
Interesting Facts
This coin set contains all eight circulating coins from 1 cent to 2 euros, as well as the two 2-euro commemorative coins of 2023, “Finland’s first Nature Conservation Act of 1923” (CC482) and “Social and Health Services as a Guarantee of the Well-Being of Citizens” (CC500), face value: 7,88 €.