Finland mints commemorative coin in honour of Saint Petersburg

Finland has decided to mint a EUR 10 coin bearing the image of Gustaf Mannerheim, the so-called "Marshal of Finland", in honour of Saint Petersburg's 300th anniversary. As a Rosbalt correspondent reports, this was announced by the press office of the Finnish consulate in Saint Petersburg. One side of the coin has a portrait of Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim while the other side of the coin will have an image of the Peter and Paul Fortress with the inscription Saint Petersburg 1703-2000.

Marshal Mannerheim underwent military training in Russia and was initially an officer in the Russian imperialist army in Saint Petersburg. When Finland became an independent country in 1917 he returned to his homeland and became Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish army. He held this position again during the Winter War of 1939-1940.