After the Russian Revolution in March 1917, Finland obtained its autonomy again, and a Senate, or coalition government, assumed rule of the country. By a law of July 1917 it was decided that all the authority previously wielded by the emperor (apart from defense and foreign policy) should be exercised by the Finnish Parliament. After Russia was taken over by the Bolsheviks in November 1917 Parliament issued a declaration of independence for Finland on Dec. 6, 1917, which was recognized by Lenin and his government on the last day of the year. 
   Although the liberation from Russia occurred peacefully, Finland was unable to avert a violent internal conflict. After the revolutionary Red Government had won control of the Social Democratic Party, they went into action and on Jan. 28, 1918., seized Helsinki and the larger  industrial towns in southern Finland. German troops came to the aid of the White forces (nationalists) in securing Helsinki; by May the rebellion had been suppressed. It was followed by trials in which harsh sentences were passed. During the summer and fall of 1918 some 20,000 former revolutionaries either were executed or died in prison camps, bringing the total losses of the war to more than 30,000 lives.
   Coinage of this short period is represented by Red (pro-russian) and White (Liberated Finnish) government issues. Red government has decided to remove crown over the imperial eagle, but leave design on two silver coins issued. Copper coin reverses were modified so they were also depicting Russian eagle. Obverse design of 1 penni obverse was taken from 25 pennia, while the eagle design for 5 and 10 pennia was taken from 1 and 2 markka coins, respectively.