The second Estonian kroon currency was introduced in 1992, after Estonia gained independence from the USSR. The kroon was subdivided into 100 cents (senti; singular sent). The one kroon coin was a popular circulating denomination; there was also a banknote with the same value, but the banknote was only issued in 1992 and was rarely used, as opposed to the coin.
The first 1 kroon coins (issued in 1992, 1993 and 1995) were made of copper-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel); however, due to their similarity to the German one mark, this type was discontinued and they were demonetised on 1 June 1998.
The second type of 1 kroon coins were made of "Nordic gold" - an alloy with composition of 89% copper, 5% aluminium and 5% zinc and 1% tin.
They were issued between 1998 and 2006 with a regular design, and in 1999 and 2008 as circulating commemoratives; the coins circulated until 15 January 2011 when they were demonetised and replaced with the Euro, when Estonia joined the Euro currency. |