The two-euro coin with a special Finno-Ugric design enters circulation today.

The two-euro coin with a special Finno-Ugric design enters circulation today.

The new two-euro coin with the special design is dedicated to the Finno-Ugric peoples. The design of the coin features the stone age cave drawings from Äänisjärv showing the sun, the elk, the hunter and the water bird. The cave drawings of Äänisjärve appear on the UNESCO list of world heritage. The coin was designed by Al Paldrok and Madis Põldsaar.

The ancestors of the Finno-Ugric peoples came originally from the area of the Ural mountains. Three Finno-Ugric peoples have national independence, the Estonians, the Finns and the Hungarians. The European Union is also the ancient home of several other smaller tribes like the Sami and the Livonians. Some twenty Finno-Ugric nations live in Russia.