| Description : The wolf is a symbol of wild and intact nature. It has
dominated Estonian forests and swamps since time immemorial. With its distinctive social and territorial behaviour, it
courageously defends its territory and protects and respects its pack, the family unit. He is a survival artist who
appreciates seclusion and has charisma. These qualities qualify it as a symbol for Estonia and its inhabitants; thus, the
Eurasian wolf was chosen as Estonia's national animal in 2018. A first coin design dedicated to the wolf, however, evoked
associations with the Turkish right‐wing extremist Grey Wolves. A tip from a coin forum that had realised the
association then led to the present modified design by Maria Meos. It shows a howling wolf now turned to the left on
a tree trunk, in front of the silhouette of a spruce forest and under a starry sky. At the top of the coin is
"CANIS LUPUS", the Latin scientific name of the wolf, on the left is the country of issue, "EESTI", and on the right the
year of issue, "2021". The coin was minted by the Lithuanian mint Lietuvos monetų kalykla in Vilnius. |
