A low-pressure discharge lamp of the invention is provided with a gas-tight discharge vessel (10) which contains an ionizable filling. Electrodes are arranged inside At least one of the electrodes has a tungsten coil (20.sub.A) which is electrically connected to current supply conductors (30.sub.A, 30.sub.A ') which extend to outside the discharge vessel (10). The coil (20.sub.A) has a central zone (21.sub.A) covered with an electron-emitting material (22.sub.A) and, on either side, boundary zones (23.sub.A, 23.sub.A ') between the central zone (21.sub.A) and respective current supply conductors (30.sub.A, 30.sub.A '). The boundary zones (23.sub.A, 23.sub.A ') having a covering (24.sub.A, 24.sub.A ') of a protective material, comprising a ceramic material having a specific resistance less than 1000 .mu..OMEGA..cm.