January 6, 2010 – Norges Bank will issue two commemorative silver coins to mark the central role of sports in Norway. One coin will be issued to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports, while the other will be issued in connection with the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships at the Holmenkollen arena in Oslo to celebrate the special importance of the sport of skiing in Norway.
“In design the two silver sports coins are a matched set and vividly depict the range of sports in Norway”, says Leif Veggum of Norges Bank’s Cashier’s Department. He also points out that the figures in the friezes blend into one another, illustrating community and cohesion.
Norges Bank invited six artists to participate in a competition for the design of the coins’ reverse. The winning designs are by Ina Viktoria Kristiansen of Uniform Strategisk Design. The portrait of H. M. King Harald V on the obverse of both coins was created by Ingrid Austlid Rise, designer at Det Norske Myntverket (Mint of Norway).
Norges Bank will issue the coins in conjunction with NIF’s 150th anniversary and the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011. The coins will be issued immediately before Idrettsgalla, an awards show for Norwegian athletes, which will take place in Hamar on Saturday, 8 January 2011.
Skiing in Norway. 200 NOK 2011 – Mintage: 40.000 – 925/1000 Ag – 32 mm – 16.85 gr – Designer: Viktoria Kristiansen/ Ingrid Austlid Rise.
In connection with the World Ski Championships 2011 in Oslo, Norges Bank will issue a silver 200-krone coin to mark the central role of the sport of skiing in Norway.
Skiing holds a special significance for most Norwegians. Skiing and the Norwegian winter have deep roots in Norwegian culture, and Morgedal in Telemark is known as the cradle of ski sports. The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships will be held at the Holmenkollen arena in Oslo 23 February – 6 March 2011. The world ski championships have in a sense come home, to perhaps the most legendary ski jump in the world, with a history going back to 1892 and a reputation as one of the world’s best known sports arenas.
The coin’s reverse was designed by Ina Viktoria Kristiansen at Uniform Strategisk Design. The coin’s surface is divided into two sections. The lower section is slightly recessed and features slanted lines representing ski tracks. The upper section features a frieze displaying skiing athletes, with the inscription: SKI-VM OSLO 2011. Below the figure of a female ski jumper is the designer’s signature, IVK.
The coin’s obverse was designed by Ingrid Austlid Rise, designer at Det Norske Myntverket AS (Mint of Norway), and features a portrait of H. M. King Harald V facing right. Around the portrait is the inscription: HARALD V NORGES KONGE. At the lower left edge of the portrait is the artist’s signature, IAR. Below the portrait: the year 2011 with Det Norske Myntverkets (Mint of Norway’s) mintmark, the crossed pick and hammer, in the centre.
Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports. 200 NOK 2011 – Mintage: 40 000 – 925/1000 Ag – 32 mm – 16.85 gr – Designer: Viktoria Kristiansen/ Ingrid Austlid Rise.
The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF) is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2011. To mark the occasion, Norges Bank will issue a 200-krone silver coin on 8 January.
NIF was founded on 15 March 1861 as Centralforeningen for Udbredelse af Legemsøvelser og Vaapenbrug and is Norway’s largest volunteer organisation, with over 2 million members divided among nearly 12 000 sports clubs organised in 19 regional associations and 55 national federations.
The coin’s reverse side was designed by Ina Viktoria Kristiansen at Uniform Strategisk Design. The coin’s surface is divided into two horizontal sections. The lower section is slightly recessed and features slanted lines representing running tracks. The upper section features a frieze displaying athletes in various sports, with the inscription: NORSK IDRETT 150 ÅR. Below the figure on a snowboard is the designer’s signature, IVK.
The coin’s obverse was designed by Ingrid Austlid Rise, designer at Det Norske Myntverket AS (Mint of Norway), and features a portrait of H. M. King Harald V facing right. Around the portrait is the inscription: HARALD V NORGES KONGE. At the lower left edge of the portrait is the artist’s signature, IAR. Below the portrait: the year 2011 with Det Norske Myntverkets (Mint of Norway’s) mintmark, the crossed pick and hammer, in the centre.
If you want to see, what skiing in Norway can look like, please click here.