Finland 1856 Coat of Arms, 5 Kopecks Blue

Finland · 1856 · 5 Kopecks

This is the first postage stamp issued by Finland, featuring the Finnish coat of arms, a crowned lion rampant holding a sword, standing on a scimitar. The design is enclosed in an oval frame with pearls, and the denomination "5 KOP" is displayed at the bottom. The stamp is imperforate and printed in a distinctive blue color.

Issued while Finland was an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire, this stamp represents the beginning of Finland's postal independence. The use of the Finnish coat of arms and kopeck currency reflects the complex political relationship with Russia at the time.