Coins of Estonia

These coins were minted after Estonia became a Republic in 1920

The Estonians are a Finno-Ugrian people related to the Finns.  For centuries, Estonians had little contact with the Western World and they traded with the Vikings.  In the 11th. and 12th.  century they fought the Russians and remained unconquered but in the 13th. century, the Germans conquered Estonia.  In the 16th. century, Sweden and Russia both tried to annex Estonia but the former came victor before the Russian in 1582.  The Great Northern War between Sweden and Russia ended in 1721 in which Sweden ceded Estonia to Russia.  During the 2nd. World War, the Germans occupied Estonia.  With the help of the British, the Russian were defeated in several battles and finally on 02 February 1920, Estonia became an independent country.