The only coin with moss on it (from the mint)

Obverse

The obverse features a “Brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) standing, looking outwards” above the country name in Finnish and English: SUOMI over FINLAND, and the year 1993 for my coin, though this piece was produced from 1990 – 2001.

The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) is Finland’s national animal. “It is the largest predator in Europe. The bear eats a mixed diet, uses carcasses for food and preys on large deer animals. When snow is on the ground, the bear is in hibernation. For ancient Finns the bear was a feared yet revered and respected animal.

The importance of the bear in the minds of ancient Finns is demonstrated by the fact that there are over 200 different names for the bear in our language. All modern Finns are familiar with names such as nalle, otso and mesikämmen, but fewer are aware that common words such as mettä, metsä, otava and mörkö are also ancient synonyms for bear.”

Reverse

The reverse features the value and privy mark above “Common haircap Moss (Binomial Name: Polytrichum commune)”. The privy mark, M, is the initial of Raimo Makkonen, Mint Master, Mint of Finland (1987-2008).

Similar to the 1983 Finland 5 Markkaa, one thing I really like with this coin is that the images on each side are connected, but not too identical (not two images of bears for instance). In this case, haircap moss grows on hummocks in swamplands, especially in spruce-, peat-, and swampy heath forests. It can also be found in rock depressions and along flooded coasts. The species is widespread and found in cool areas around the world.

Its Finnish name “korpikarhunsammal” refers to bears, because it is used by bears as nest linings and insulation for their dens. Haircap moss is a large, vertically growing moss with long needle-like leaves. When dry, its leaves adhere to the stem and it resembles a small spruce when wet. The plant’s beaklike spore capsules are found at the end of its thin stalks.

And coming back to the first line in the post – this is the only circulating coin listed on numista, for the search term “moss”. There are a couple of non-circulating coins, of which my favourite is the 2017 Canadian 20 dollars featuring the Canadian Lynx on a moss-covered cliff. What is your favourite one-off coin theme? Can you think of any others? It’s a tricky question – I look forward to hear what you come up with!