2 euro coins roll 2015 Finland – The 150th anniversary of the birth of artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela

Description

Akseli Gallen-Kallela (26 April 1865 – 7 March 1931) was a Swedish-speaking Finnish painter who is best known for his illustrations of the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic (illustration, below). His work was considered very important for the Finnish national identity. He changed his name from Gallen to Gallen-Kallela in 1907.

On the top of the design there is a swimming swan of Tuonela. The water below the swan is waving from the descending spirit. The indication of the issuing country ‘FI’ is at the right end of the horizon line. At the bottom of the design there is the artist’s palette with Gallen-Kallela’s year of birth ‘1865’ and the year of issuance ‘2015’. Next to the pallet is the mint mark. The artist’s name ‘AKSELI GALLEN KALLELA’ is on the ring of the coin, below the horizon line. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.