I managed to translate from estonian that it was not in circulation, but maybe some estonians have further information, was this just a romantic souvenir or a test coin of begginings of estonian state after USSR started falling apart in 1989? And also concerning mintage or mint?
According to some sources mintage was 50000. It was a fantasy issue which was released before second Estonian Kroon. These were sold in Central Union of Consumer Cooperatives shops as souveniers. Price back then was around 5 Soviet roubles.
Also, it was given as gift by local councils to some employees and by some schools to students who graduated this year with distinction. Not sure how many were given to people that way and couldn't find any info about it in internet.
Thank you all! Strange though, because the person I got it from said surely he got it from circulation during his trip to Estonia in early 90s, so I wonder if someone tried to cheat him by giving a coin which was not legal tender :D
Maybe some shopkeeper accidentally accepted it and then gave it back as usual 1 kroon to get rid of it or again not even noticing.
With similar weight and size it often happens that in the end of the day closing shop you find some wrong coins in ur til.
For example working in shop in Ireland, you sometimes notice you have 1 pingin from old irish money in your 5- euro cent drawer or UK 1 penny, Canadian 1cent or USA 1 cent in your 2- euro cent drawer.
