| Description : The commemorative coin, designed by Reijo Juhani Paavilainen
and Pekka Rytkönen from a photograph, commemorates the 125th birthday of the Finnish writer Frans Eemil
Sillanpää (1888‐1964) who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1939 ‐ for his deep understanding of
the peasant population of his country and the exquisite art with which he portrayed their way of life and their relationship
with nature ‐ especially in his novels Miehen tie (One Man's Way) and Nuorena nukkunut (Silja, the Maid).
He was a master of a particular style through which deep insights into the relationship between man and nature found their way
into Finnish literature. Among his compatriots, this master storyteller was especially known for his popular radio broadcasts
and unforgettable Christmas columns. After the war years, Sillanpää evolved into the long‐bearded "Taata", the
country's unofficial grandfather. His childhood Christmas memories gave rise to a popular tradition: at Christmastime, "Taata"
would gather the entire nation in front of the radio, listening spellbound to his light‐hearted Christmas tales. His name
"F.E.SILLANPÄÄ" is shown above, his year of birth "1888" on the left and his year of death "1964" on the right. The
year of issue "2013" is shown vertically at the top right, at the bottom left is a lion (the heraldic animal of Finland) the
mint mark of the Finnish mint Suomen Rahapaja OY in Vantaa, at the bottom right the country abbreviation "FI"
(Finland). |
