October 6, 2016 – The winners of the 10th anniversary commemorative coins contest “Coin Constellation – 2016” were announced on 22 September 2016. The awarding ceremony took place in Moscow, at the Radission Slavyanskaya Hotel, at the 7th International Conference and Exhibition COINS-2016.
This year for the only international commemorative coins contest held in Russia more than 240 commemorative coins and 21 coin series issued from 1 January till 31 December were submitted. Applications were received from 44 participants located in 29 countries.
Among participants of the Coin Constellation – 2016: central banks of Armenia, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, the Kyrgyz Republic, Poland, the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Trans-Dniester Republic, as well as companies: China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (China), Coin Invest Trust (Lichtenstein), Downies (Australia), International Coin House AG (Switzerland), Moneda Nueva (Spain), NumisCollect (the Netherlands), Numiscom GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Tatfondbank (Russia), Transstroibank (Russia), Proof Association (Russia), the Russian Agricultural Bank (Russia), Treasures of Oz Pty Ltd (Australia), New Zealand Post; mints of Russia, France, Hungary, Poland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Great Britain, Spain, Canada, the Netherlands, Austria, Mexico, the USA, Finland, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, and many others.
All coin pictures and descriptions submitted for the contest were valued by the international jury committee comprising experts of the largest museums, auction houses, numismatic associations and specialized media.
The jury defined winners and awardees in 9 nominations: Unique Concept, Successful Artistic Solution, Original Technology, Coin Classic, Souvenir Coin, Series of the Year, Silver Coin of the Year, Gold Coin of the Year, and Coin of the Year.
The tenth People’s Choice Award is determined by online voting at the official page of the contest at the numismatic portal www.Gold10.ru. The organizing committee also awards the Special Prize and the prize ‘For the contribution to the development of commemorative coins market’.
Winners of Coin Constellation – 2016
Latvia was the winner in the category ‘Unique Concept’.
Unique Concept
The winner in the nomination ‘Unique concept’ is the coin ‘Rainis and Aspazija’ minted by the Bank of Latvia. The coin combines interesting technologies, fine quality and bright history of human relations.
The second place was taken by the coin ‘Chopin’s Score’ issued by the Mint of Poland. The coin weighs 4 ounces and has a curved shape of the manuscript. The third place was taken by the coin ‘The Issue of the First Payment Cards of the Russian National Payment System’ issued by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. It is the first rectangular commemorative coin in Russia of the proof quality. It reminds of a miniature plastic card.
Latvia was the winner in the category ‘Successful artistic solution’.
Successful artistic solution
The winner in this nomination is ‘Valse Mélancolique’ issued by the Bank of Latvia, demonstrating how the plain artistic shape reflects the deep inner sense. The coin was minted the Royal Dutch Mint. The second place goes to the coin ‘Finnish Sisu’ by the Mint of Finland. The third place was taken by the coin ‘Little Prince’ minted at Monnaie de Paris.
Coin Invest Trust was the winner in the category ‘Original Technology’.
Original Technology
The first place goes to the coin ‘Space-Time Continuum’ submitted by Coin Invest Trust (Lichtenstein). The coin has a square shape with a curved effect. The ball in the center symbolizing the planet is a magnet and can be taken out of the coin.
The second places is taken by the coin ‘French Excellence’ by Monnaie de Paris in the shape of the plate as a nod to the practice of Sevres porcelain. The third place is awarded to the coin ‘Chromadepth 3D’ by ART MINT (France). This is the first coin in the world with a colored artistic composition minted with a 3D technology.
The Netherlands were the winner in the category ‘Coin classic’.
Coin classic
The Double Golden Ducat by the Royal Dutch Mint has become the winner in this nomination. The second place is taken by the coin ‘500 years of Livonian Ferding’ issued by the Bank of Latvia. The third place goes to the Israel Museum Bullion by the Bank of Israel, the sixth coin in the series “Golden bullions of Jerusalem”.
Lithuania was the winner in the category ‘Souvenir Coin’.
Souvenir Coin
The most interesting souvenir coin, as to the jury, is the coin ’25th anniversary of the restoration of Lithuania’s independence’ by the Bank of Lithuania. The second place is taken by the coin ‘Animals of the Provinces – Lapland’ issued at the Mint of Finland. The third place goes to ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ minted by the Perth Mint, Australia.
The Russian Federation was the winner in the category ‘Series of the year’.
Series of the year
The winner here is the series ‘Save our world. Elk’ by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation comprising of seven coins of precious metals (gold and silver). The second place is taken by the coin ‘Treasures of Spanish Museums III’ by the Royal Spanish Mint. The third place is awarded to the coin ‘The 70th Anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet People in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945’ made by the Saint Petersburg Mint of Goznak (Russia). It consists of 3 coins: two silver – 3 and 25 rubles, and the gold one – 50 rubles.
Portugal was the winner in the category ‘Silver coin of the year’.
Silver coin of the year
The winner is ‘The Bedspreads of Castelo Branco’ by INCM – Portuguese Mint and Official Printing Office. The second place is taken by the coin ‘Centenary of World War I 1915-2015’ by the Italian Mint. The third place goes to the coin ‘Creative Works of Michelangelo Bounarroti’ by the Saint Petersburg Mint of Goznak (Russia).
Italy was the winner in the category ‘Gold coin of the year’.
Gold coin of the year
The winner is the coin ‘Flora in Art Masterpieces – Neoclassicism’ by the Italian Mint which is a fine example of the classic Italian medallic art school. The second place is taken by the coin ‘Maple Canopy: Kaleidoscope of Colour’ by the Royal Canadian Mint. The third place goes to the coin ‘The 155th Anniversary of the Bank of Russia’ issued by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.
Armenia was the winner in the category ‘Coin of the year’.
Coin of the year
The winner is the coin ‘The Centenary of the Armenian Genocide’ by the Central Bank of Armenia. The face value is 100 dram; the coin was minted by the Lithuanian Mint. The second place is taken by the coin ‘70 Years of Peace in Europe’ by the Italian Mint. The third place goes to the coin ‘Coinage in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania’ by the Bank of Lithuania.
For the contribution to the development of commemorative coins market
The prize ‘For the contribution to the development of commemorative coins market’ is given to Svetlana Nekrasova. Svetlana is a chief specialist of Issue and Cash Operations Directorate of Cash Circulation Department of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus. However, on the coin market Svetlana is well known as a talented artist, who created a good number of sketches for commemorative coins of Belarus. Her artworks are winners of different coin contests, including the Coin Constellation.
Special Prize by the Organizing Committee
This year the Special Prize by the Organizing Committee is given to the National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Kazakhstan Mint.
Coin Invest Trust was the winner in the category ‘People’s Choice Award’.
People’s Choice Award
Online voting at www.Gold10.ru defined the winner in the nomination “People’s Choice Award”. The prize goes to the coin ‘Murrine Millefiori Glass Art‘ represented by Coin Invest Trust and minted at B.H. Mayer (Germany).
The organizer of the contest is the Water Mark Publishing House – the publisher of the magazine about coins and medals ‘the Gold Chervonets’ and the organizer of the International Conference and Exhibition COINS.
For more information on past competitions click here.
On the COINS website you can learn more about the conference and exhibition.