5 Euro of Finland 2013 UNC - Provincial Buildings: Savonia

The Provincial Buildings coin series celebrates buildings or structures relating to Finland’s historical provinces. Each of these landmarks describes in its own unique way Finnish culture, the spirit of the time and the people themselves. The ’Provincial Buildings’ coin series memorialises one building or structure from each of Finland’s historical provinces. These provinces are Åland, Finland Proper, Satakunta, Uusimaa, Karelia, Tavastia, Savonia, Ostrobothnia and Lapland.

In the heart of Savonia, in the middle of a lake landscape rises St Olaf’s Castle. Over the centuries its solid walls have witnessed the changes in rule over Savonia, the thunder of numerous battles and the echoes of opera festivals. The marks of Swedish as well as Russian rulers are apparent in the rich tapestry of the castle’s architecture. The coin depicts one of the castle’s towers and a branch of rowan, the provincial tree of North Savonia.