The 2 euro coin was minted by Finland in 2021 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the autonomy of the Åland Islands, granted in 1921 by a decision of the League of Nations. Åland is the only autonomous region of Finland with Swedish as its official language.
Obverse
The standard obverse of the 2 euro coins: a map of the EU, the 12 stars of the European Union, the Vantaa mint mark and the year 2021.
Reverse
The reverse shows a map of the Åland archipelago against a seascape with the inscriptions "AHVENANMAA 100" and "SUOMI FINLAND 2021". The outer ring has 12 EU stars.
Historical context
The Åland Islands are an archipelago of over 6,700 islands between Finland and Sweden. After World War I, the League of Nations awarded the islands to Finland in 1921 on the condition of broad autonomy and demilitarization. The population (about 29,000 people) speaks Swedish. The Åland Islands have their own parliament and are a neutral zone according to international agreements.