Estonia - New 2- and 10-kroon banknotes in circulation

[akdrv]

Eesti Pank puts a new series of 2- and 10-kroon banknotes in circulation at the beginning of 2007. The new series include a few renewed security features. The 2- and 10-kroons issued earlier will also remain in circulation.

 

The new series of 2-kroon banknotes were printed by Giesecke & Devrient GmbH (Germany) in their printing office in Canada and have the year 2006 marked on them. The most significant change concerns the watermark of the 2-kroon note. While the 2-kroon notes issued in 1992 contain a watermark depicting the Tall Hermann Tower of the Toompea Castle on the right clean edge of their front side, then the 2006-series have a watermark depicting the portrait of K. E. von Baer there. The new 2-kroon banknotes have altogether 11 security features.

 

The new series of 10-kroon banknotes were printed by Thomas De La Rue (UK) in their printing office in Malta in 2006. Unlike the previous series, the new series have the serial number on the back side. The front side includes a tactile feature for the visually impaired in the lower corner of the banknote. The watermark of the new 10-kroon notes has been changed as well. The earlier series have a watermark with three lions, whereas the 2006-series depicts the portrait of Jakob Hurt. The new 10-kroon notes have altogether 14 security features.

 

Both new banknotes have the signatures of the Governor of Eesti Pank, Andres Lipstok and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Eesti Pank, Mart Sõrg on the front side.

 

"Until now the latest Estonian banknotes were the 25-kroon notes printed in 2002. The new 2- and 10-kroon banknotes will not be the last ones Eesti Pank will issue before the euro changeover. At present, we are also preparing to order additional 25-, 100- and 500-kroon banknotes," said Andres Lipstok, Governor of Eesti Pank.

 

At the end of 2006, there were 2-kroon notes in the sum of 33 million kroons and 10-kroon notes in the sum of 84 million kroons in circulation. The 2-kroon notes are the most common in terms of the number of banknotes, accounting for 21 per cent of all banknotes in circulation. All in all, there are approximately 80 million banknotes in circulation in the total sum of over 11 billion kroons.

 

As regards companies operating vending machines, Eesti Pank recommends to contact commercial banks to order specimen banknotes for the modification of vending machines.

 

Information on the security features of the new banknotes is available on the web site of Eesti Pank at www.eestipank.info.