An Admirable Advocate You’ve Never Heard Of

The United States isn’t the only country touting the deeds of its remarkable women by placing their portraits on coinage. The Bank of Estonia has followed suit, launching the first issue in its new series of silver proof coins that feature outstanding Estonian women. The premiere release highlights a woman who had a significant impact on social development—Lilli Suburg (1841-1923), one of Estonia’s earliest public advocates for women’s rights. 

About Lilli Suburg

Suburg’s ideas and efforts were revolutionary during her time. A writer, journalist, teacher, and lecturer, she founded Estonia’s first women’s-oriented publication, Linda, and served as its first editor-in-chief. The magazine sought ways to improve women’s unequal status in society, encouraged women to pursue education, and provided inspiration and role models. 

Suburg also founded Estonia’s first private girls’ school, employing innovative teaching methods to stimulate students’ interest and curiosity. She wanted to teach her students in Estonian, but strict regulations forced her to open the school as a German-language institution. Nevertheless, she focused on incorporating works by renowned Estonian authors, such as Carl Robert Jakobson, Lydia Koidula, and Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald, into the curriculum to develop a sense of cultural identity. 

In her later years, Suburg became an honorary member of the Tartu Women’s Association but was unable to attend the first women’s congress held in Tartu in 1917. She died on February 8, 1923.

The Commemorative

In her late teens, Suburg was diagnosed with erysipelas (a skin infection) that left scars on her face and neck, which she always covered with a scarf when photographed thereafter. The reverse of the 15-euro coin shows a stylized portrait of Suburg with her scarf, reflecting both her progressive initiatives and the struggles she faced. The coin’s obverse bears Estonia’s coat of arms. 

Designed by Tiiu Pirsko and Mati Veermets and struck by the Lithuanian Mint, the piece has a limited mintage of 3,000. To order, visit the Bank of Estonia’s website.