June 28, 2018 – From sestertius to cent – 2000 years of money in Estonia – this is the title of a new numismatic book, that tells the reader for the first time the entire history of money and coins in Estonia. Of course, it is written in Estonian.
Ivar Leimus, Mauri Kiudsoo, Gunnar Haljak, Sestertsist sendini – 2000 aastat raha Eestis. Ajaloomuuseum, Tallinn 2018. 286 pages, over 400 colored images. Hardcover. 28.9×21.5 cm. ISBN: 9789949624225. 36.90 Euros.
The book deals with the advance of the first Roman sestertius in Estonia and describes the domination of the Islamic dirham and the West European denarius in the circulation during the Viking-age.
Naturally, the authors also talk about the national minting: First, about the minting of the Livonian bishops and masters of the order in the Middle Ages and then about the coinage system under Swedish and Polish ruling in the 16th and 17th century. This is followed by the monetary situation under the Tsars, the banknotes and coins of the Republic of Estonia between the two World Wars and the National Socialist and Soviet occupation.
After the liberation in 1991, Estonia issued its own coins and bills.
The book ends with joining the euro and also explains how it came to this European common currency.
Ivar Leimus wrote the parts on numismatics, Mauri Kiudsoo dealt with the problems of the ciurculation of coins, Gunnar Haljak contributed the most of the images as well as many valuable tips and commentaries. All the small coins are depicted with a diameter of 3.5 cm, which makes it possible for the reader to see even the littlest details of the effigy.
You can order the book about the numismatic history of Estonia here.