5 markkaa FINLAND (1972-1978)

above the coin centre Tarmo-class icebreaker floating among ice rightwards; below in two lines: SUOMI / FINLAND (Finland in Finnish and Swedish); on the bottom year of issue

in the coin centre large face value: 5 (markkaa); on the sides concave and convex stylised birds; on the bottom: MARKKAA

plain with concave inscription: * SUOMEN TASAVALTA * REPUBLIKEN FINLAND
(Republic of Finland in Finnish and Swedish)

???  no data

1 I 1998

Heikki Häiväoja

Rahapaja Oy (The Mint), Vantaa (below ice at the left edge of the obverse initial S of Finnish mint director Soiniemi in years 1972-1975, or initial K of Koivutanta in years 1976-1978)

1972	400 000	S
1973	2 188 000	S	+ 20 007 in annual boxed sets
1974	300 000	S	+ 79 258 in annual boxed sets
1975	300 000	S	+ 58 820 in annual boxed sets
1976	400 000	K	+ 45 263 in annual boxed sets
1977	300 000	K	+ 40 392 in annual boxed sets
1978	300 000	K	+ 39 745 in annual boxed sets

On Finnish coins produced after 1945 the following initials of directors of the Finnish Mint can be found:

• S - Isak Gustaf Sundell (in years 1912 - 1947)

• L - Vesa Uolevi Liuhto (1948)

• H - Peippo Uolevi Helle (1948 - 1958)

• S - Allan Alarik Soiniemi (1958 - 1975)

• K - Timo Kauko Koivuranta (1976 - 1983)

• N - Reino Tapio Nevalainen (1983 - 1987)

• M - Reino Tapio Makkonen (1987 - 2006)

The Baltic Sea surrounding Finland freezes every winter. In order to keep the ports opened in winter the fleet of icebreakers is necessary. Icebreaker Tarmo, built by Rakentaja Oy Wärtsilä in Helsinki in 1960, started a series, which included also Hanse, Varma, Apu as well as Swedish Tor and Njord. All of these ships, except for the damaged Hanse, serve to this day under flags of other countries.