Latest exhibition
The last Finnish markka
Finnish banknotes 1945–2002
The current seasonal exhibition at the Bank of Finland Museum presents Finnish banknotes from 1945 until the euro cash changeover in 2002. The redemption of these banknotes ends on 29 February 2012, ten years after the changeover.
This exhibition consists of two parts. Display cases and mounted pictures show various artists' proposals for the banknote draft competitions held in 1947 and 1982. A multimedia presentation shows all markka denominated banknote types used in Finland after the Second World War.
The exhibition is based on the book of the same name, written by Antti Heinonen and published by the Bank of Finland.
Only a piece of paper
A banknote is only a piece of paper with no inherent value. The value of a banknote is based on trust in the issuer. This trust depends on the ability of the banknote to fulfil its role as a payment instrument and keeper of value.
The Bank of Finland is the sole issuer of banknotes in Finland and during the timeline covered by the exhibition the Bank also decided on the face values, paper, design and production methods of banknotes. The final decision on the banknotes was made by the Parliamentary Supervisory Council on the proposal by the Bank’s Board.
Design competition of 1947
In 1947 the Bank of Finland organized an open competition on banknote design for Finnish artists. The 1st and 2nd prizes were given to Tapio Wirkkala, sculptor, who designed the final banknotes, issued in 1955.
Some of Wirkkala’s proposals.
Design competition of 1982
The banknote series based on Wirkkala’s original creations was completely renewed in 1986. In 1982 the Bank of Finland organized an in-house competition for the artists of the Security Printing House. Both phases of the competition were won by Torsten Ekström. He designed the faces of the banknotes of the 1986 type and the backs were designed by Erik Bruun, whose proposals were also successful in the competition.
Some proposals by Ekström and Bruun.
