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A 2 euro commemorative coin of the Republic of Estonia, issued in 2019 in a circulation of 500,000 copies. Dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Estonian Song Festival. The author of the design is 15-year-old Grete-Lizette Gulbis from Tõrva (winner of the public vote). Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Overse
The design is inspired by the Song Festival procession, which moves like the waves of the sea with celebration, pride and joy and a palette of national costumes. The composition combines music, national clothes and the venues of the great national Song Festival by the sea. The design includes the first notes of the Estonian national anthem "Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm" and the inscription "Laulupidu 150" (Song Festival 150) at the bottom. At the top is the year "2019", at the bottom is the name of the country "EESTI". On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the European Union.
Reverse
The reverse is the common side of the 2 euro coins of the second type, designed by Luc Luix. It depicts a map of Europe as a single continent without internal borders. On the left is a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right is a map. On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the European Union. The band is with fine ribbing and the national inscription.
Historical context
The Estonian Song Festival (Laulupidu - "Singing Festival") is one of the largest choral gatherings in the world, a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity as defined by UNESCO (2003). The first festival took place in the summer of 1869 in Tartu with 878 male singers and brass bands, conducted by Johann Voldemar Jansen. It was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the abolition of serfdom in Estonia by Tsar Alexander I (1819). Since 1923, the festival has been held every 5 years, and since 1928, it has been held on the specially built Singing Field in Tallinn, which can accommodate up to 80,000 spectators and 30,000 singers at a time. This festival was the heart of the Singing Revolution of 1988-1991, which peacefully led to the restoration of Estonian independence. In 2019, when the 150th anniversary was celebrated, more than 35,000 singers from 1,020 choirs took part in the festival, with an audience of 100,000.