THE BANK OF ESTONIA MONEY MUSEUM

On a recent visit, I had the opportunity to view both the Bank of Estonia's own Money Museum as well as the History Museum's (Ajaloomuuseum) numismatic collection, both located in the heart of Tallinn, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval old towns...

I had visited the Bank of Estonia's money museum some years ago when the premises occupied a much smaller space and the exhibitions were limited to that specific confine. Even then, the displays were well done, informative and they managed to put on show some extraordinary artifacts and items which were indeed fascinating and quite fascinating… real museum quality objects in a small central bank museum.

At the end of 2010, the Bank of Estonia carried out extensive renovations where the new museum would both increase in size and the premises would now integrate greater portions of the old Estonian Nobility's Credit Union, a landmark building adjacent to the Bank of Estonia's main premises. After more than a year's careful restoration, the new museum was opened in January of this year and, I can say first-hand, the wait was well worth it.

I was truly impressed with the restorative work carried out on the interior of the building itself with careful detail paid to the original marble and wood fixtures. The tower and spiral entrance itself is something to see with its stained glass windows (which miraculously survived the Soviet air-raids in 1944) depicting cultural life in the countryside and the hand-painted murals of national crests and emblems - also painstakingly restored.

The Money Museum includes every banknote and coin issued since independence in 1918 - from initial promissory and credit notes to the first actual currency banknotes denominated in the original Marka system. In one specific featured display, are the very printing plates eventually re-discovered in 2000 by the Bank of Estonia which had been carefully buried in 1940 by a diligent employee perhaps thinking the Bank may need to re-print banknotes after the Soviet invasion.

These printing plates went on display after they were un-earthed in a special exhibition in 2002 and I had the opportunity to review the new addition shortly after their initial debut. Dated with their year of their intended issue of 1940, the plates were used for an initial print run but, these notes were never used and eventually all Krooni notes of that era were withdrawn and forcibly exchanged for USSR roubles. I am told that the Bank never discovered who the loyal Bank employee was who had heroically hid the printing plates for their eventual and hoped-for later use. The plates now form part of the permanent displays of the bank's exhibition.

For any coin & banknote enthusiast, a visit to the Money Museum is a must-see attraction. Tallinn has emerged as a very exciting and vibrant city who has managed to preserve the character and structure of its colorful Hanseatic & medieval past. As a collector, another reason to visit is the museum's gift shop where you can purchase the latest coins and sets direct at issue prices.

To read the complete article, see: Estonia's Numismatic Past and Present at the Bank of Estonia Money Museum (news.coinupdate.com/estonia-numismatic-past-and-present
-at-the-bank-of-estonia-money-museum-1316/)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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