Markka: From Coins to Euro in Finland

Markka, the old currency of Finland, had a fascinating history. In 1860, Finland was a grand duchy of Russia and the first Finnish currency, the markka, was introduced.

The markka was initially pegged to the Russian ruble, but in 1876, Finland gained autonomy and the markka became its own currency. The first Finnish banknotes were introduced in 1861.

The Finnish markka was divided into 100 smaller units called pennies, or pennät in Finnish.

The name "markka" has a rich history, and it's rooted in a medieval unit of weight. This etymological connection is shared with Germany's former currency, the Deutsche Mark and pfennig.

The word "markka" actually predates the currency by several centuries, but the currency was established before being named. A competition was held to choose its name, with other contenders like "sataikko" and "omena" (which means "apple") being considered.

Interestingly, the Finnish language doesn't use plurals when referring to multiple markkaa, instead using partitive singular forms like "10 markkaa".

The name "markka" has its roots in a medieval unit of weight, similar to the Deutsche Mark and pfennig in Germany. This etymological connection is quite interesting.

The word "markka" has a long history, predating the currency it represents by several centuries. The currency was established before being named "markka".

A competition was held to name the currency, with other entries including "sataikko" (meaning "having a hundred parts"), "omena" (apple), and "suomo" (from "Suomi", the Finnish name for Finland).

The history of etymology is a long and winding road. Etymology has its roots in ancient Greece, where the word "etymology" itself comes from the Greek words "etymon" meaning true sense and "logos" meaning word or reason.

The study of etymology dates back to the 14th century, when scholars began to analyze the origins of words. Scholars like William Caxton, a famous English printer, played a significant role in the development of etymology by translating Latin texts and introducing new words into the English language.

Etymologists have been fascinated by the evolution of words over time, and one of the most interesting examples is the word "quarantine". This word originated from the Italian word "quaranta", meaning 40, and was used to describe the 40-day isolation period imposed on ships arriving in Venice during the Black Death.

As languages evolved, so did the meanings of words. For instance, the word "awful" originally meant "awe-inspiring" or "fearful", but its meaning shifted to "bad" or "unpleasant" over time.

The Finnish markka had a series of coins and banknotes that were used until it was replaced by the euro. The last series of Finnish markka coins included five coins, ranging from 1 to 5 markka.

The coins were designed to be used alongside the banknotes, which were also a crucial part of the Finnish markka system. The last markka banknotes in circulation until euro cash changeover were from the 1986 series.

A notable feature of the 20 markka note is that it was put into circulation in 1993 and later furnished with a hologram in 1997. The pictorial themes of the markka banknotes portrayed the main periods in Finnish history, with the designs reflecting Finland's period of independence, autonomy, and time as part of the Kingdom of Sweden.

The Finnish markka coins are a fascinating topic, and I'm excited to share some interesting facts about them.

The last series of Finnish markka coins included five coins, which were eventually replaced by the euro.

These coins were minted every year from their original year of issue until 2001, with the 50 and 10 penni coins being introduced in 1990, and the 10, 5, and 1 markka coins being introduced in 1993.

Markka collector coins have been put into circulation in Finland since 1952, initially every now and then, but later almost annually.

Here's a list of the last series of Finnish markka coins, along with their final euro values rounded to the nearest cent:

The last series of Finnish markka banknotes was designed in the 1980s by Torsten Ekström and Finnish designer Erik Bruun, and issued in 1986.

The last series of Finnish markka banknotes included denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 marks. You can find the details of each denomination in the table below.

The Bank of Finland used a photograph of Väinö Linna on the 20 mk note without permission from copyright holders, and later paid 100,000 mk (€17,000) compensation to the rights holders.

The first series of markka coins was introduced with six denominations: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 penniä, and 1 markka.

The 1 and 5 penniä coins were initially made of bronze, later replaced with aluminium.

The 10 penniä, 20 penniä, and 50 penniä coins were made of aluminium-bronze, later also replaced with aluminium.

The 1 markka coin was initially made of silver, later changed to cupro-nickel.

In 1963, the design of the new coins was identical to the last issue of the old markka, but with new denominations.

From 1972, aluminium-bronze 5 markka coins were also issued.

The markka was the official currency of Finland from 1860 to 2002. It was divided into 100 pennies.

The markka was widely accepted in Finland and was used for both everyday transactions and larger purchases. Its durability and reliability made it a trusted form of payment.

Markka notes and coins were designed to be easy to use and recognize, with distinct colors and designs.

Finland's currency, the Markka, had a fascinating history. The Markka was issued by Finland, a republic since 1919.

The Markka was a standard circulation coin, used from 1864 to 1993, with a value of 1 Markka (1 FIM). It was part of the New Markka currency, introduced in 1963 and phased out in 2001.

The Markka was made of copper-nickel (75% Copper, 25% Nickel) and weighed 6.1 grams. It had a diameter of 24 mm and a thickness of 1.79 mm, with a round shape and milled technique.

The Markka was demonetized on December 31, 1997. It was a widely used currency, with a number of references in numismatic catalogues, including KM# 49a and Schön# 56a.

Here's a comparison of two Markka coins:

The Markka was also used as a standard circulation coin from 1864 to 1870, during the reign of Grand Prince Alexander II.

The strong euro is having a significant impact on Finland's economy. According to Kanniainen, Germany's influence is keeping the euro's value too high for the other member states.

Finland's economy is being strangled by the strong euro, making it difficult for the country to compete. Kanniainen warns that switching to a parallel national currency would initially be harsh for many euro area citizens.

The value of Finland's parallel currency, the markka, could drop by as much as six percent. However, Kanniainen believes it could be even weaker due to Finland's decreased competitive ability.

A freely floating currency value would eventually reflect the true value of a country's economy. This means a Finnish labourer would finally have the purchasing power they deserve, equivalent to the country's performance in export markets.

The Finnish markka was the currency of Finland from 1864 to 2001. The markka was divided into 100 penni.

In 1981, the markka was the official currency of Finland, used by the Grand Duchy of Finland as an Autonomous Part of the Russian Empire and the Republic of Finland.

The Coin of Finland has a rich history. The markka was the official currency of Finland from 1864 to 2001, and it was divided into 100 penni.

Markka coins were first minted in the 1990s, with 50 and 10 penni coins being introduced in 1990. These coins were used in circulation until the euro cash changeover.

The 10, 5, and 1 markka coins were introduced in 1993 and were minted every year from 1993 to 2001. Markka collector coins have been put into circulation in Finland since 1952, initially every now and then, but later almost annually.

Here's a breakdown of the markka coins that were minted in the 1990s and early 2000s:

The markka was officially replaced by the euro in 2002, marking the end of an era for this beloved currency.

In 1981, Finland had a unique coin design that reflected its history and heritage. The coin featured a crowned lion, a symbol of the country, with a human arm brandishing a sword trampling on a Russian sabre.

The lion was designed by Heikki Häiväoja, who also created a new version of the heraldic Finnish lion. This design element was a nod to Finland's lengthy wars with Russia in ancient times.

The coin was minted by the Mint of Finland in Helsinki, Finland. It was made of copper-nickel and measured 24 mm in diameter and weighed 6 grams.

The edge of the coin bore the inscription "SUOMI FINLAND", which is the Finnish name of the state. This inscription added to the coin's unique character and cultural significance.