Other publications
The First Euros
From the conception and development of Europe’s first common banknotes in the early 1990s, to the creation and launch of the second series, Europa. The book gives a detailed analysis of the choices faced at the different stages of design, production and issuance, and the reasoning behind the decisions ultimately made. The author’s personal recollections and experiences enliven a richly illustrated narrative.
Bank of Finland 200 years history book
The history of the Bank of Finland has been written by banking historian Antti Kuusterä Ph.D. and Juha Tarkka Ph.D., Advisor to the Board at the Bank of Finland. The books are being published by Otava Publishing Company.
The publication being released on 28 April 2011 is the first of a two-part narrative of the history of the Bank, entitled 'Imperial Cashier to Central Bank'. The book recounts why Finland was granted it own financial system already half a century before the country gained independence; how the Bank of Finland was the bank to the People's Delegation in the spring of 1918 and how the young Governor of the Bank of Finland, Risto Ryti fought to maintain the value of the markka in the years of the Great Depression of the 1930s.
The second part released on 20 August 2012, entitled 'Parliament's Bank'. The second volume of history book studies the Bank of Finland from the war years until the outset of European monetary union. The bank played a crucial role as an engine of growth policy and Finland’s international economic integration. The book also presents new perspectives on Finland’s cataclysmic economic crisis in the early 1990s, and its course towards European monetary union.The books are on sale at the Bank of Finland Museum (in Finnish and in English), from the Otava bookshop and Online Outlet as well from well-stocked bookshops (in Finnish). Books are also available as pdf-files on this website.
From piece of paper to banknote
The Bank of Finland and the German foundation Giesecke+Devrient Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung have jointly published the following work written by Heinonen:”Vom Zettel zum Geldschein: Deutsche Einflüsse auf das Design und den Druck von Banknoten im Großfürstentum Finnland” [From piece of paper to banknote: German influence on the design and printing of the banknotes of the Grand Duchy of Finland]. The work is published on the respective websites of the Bank of Finland and the foundation.
Starting from Johannes Gutenberg, the role of Germans in the development of printing technology is well known. His innovation gained a significant foothold everywhere. In contrast, the role of the Germans in developing the design, engraving and printing of banknotes outside of Germany is a less well documented in the literature. Even though the Grand Duchy of Finland was part of the Russian Empire, Germans had a role in every series of Finnish banknotes during the Russian period. This applied even to banknotes printed in St. Petersburg, as all of the parties contracted by the Bank of Finland in the printing process were of German origin.
Bank of Finland 200th anniversary – art booklets
The Bank of Finland's art booklets present the stories behind three pieces from the Bank's art collection: Akseli Gallen-Kallela's Aino triptych, Lennart Segerstråle's Finlandia frescos and Juho Rissanen's stained glass windows as well as a booklet presenting the creation of the Bank of Finland's main building, and its architect Ludwig Bohnstedt.
- Ludwig Bohnstedt (PDF)
- Akseli Gallen-Kallela (PDF)
- Lennart Segerstråle (PDF)
- Juho Rissanen (PDF)