The results of the contest “Coin Constellation - 2015”

| 29/06/2015

Numismatic news

The winners of the Ninth Commemorative Coin Contest “Coin Constellation-2015” were announced on 25 June 2015. That day the Awarding Ceremony in which the results of the competition were summarized took place in Moscow in the Radisson Slavyanskaya hotel under the Sixth International Coin Conference and Exhibition COINS-2015. Let us remind you that “Coin Constellation” is the only international commemorative coin contest held in the Russian Federation.

From year to year the number of participants of the contest increases. This year 12 new companies took part in the competition, among them - mints and distribution companies from France, Australia, Germany, Poland, Italy (including the Italian State Mint), the United States (the US Mint), the Czech Republic, Iran (the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran) and commercial banks in Russia.

Applications with images and description of coins were received from 46 organizations from 29 countries. These are well-known world mints, national and commercial banks, leading distributors of coins. In total 240 commemorative coins and 23 coin series issued from 1 January to 31 December 2014 took part in the contest “Coin Constellation-2015”.

All images of coins with their detailed description submitted to the contest were judged by members of the International Jury, which consists of experts from museums, auction houses, numismatic associations and specialized publications about the coins.

The jury had the task to determine the winners of nine major categories: “Unique concept”, “Successful artistic solution”, “Original technology”, “Coin Classic”, “Souvenir coins”, “Silver Coin of the Year”, “ Gold Coin of the Year”, “Coin of the Year”, “Series of the Year”.

The winner of the 10th nomination – “People’s Choice Award” – is determined by online voting on www.Gold10.ru. Anyone could vote in the period from 15 April to 15 June 2015 for his favourite coin, thereby giving the coin a chance to win.

Traditionally, on the Awarding Ceremony the Special Prize of the Organizing Committee is also announced. In 2015, it was also decided by the organizers of the contest to make another category of awarding – “Leader in 2014 in local sales among the banks unlicensed for precious metals”.

Winners and awardees of the contest “Coin Constellation-2015”

Unique Concept

The winner is the coin “The White Book”, presented to the contest by the Bank of Latvia. The silver coin commemorates the 100th anniversary of publication of “The White Book” by famous Latvian author and painter Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš.

The second place is given to the silver coin “Russian Sportsmen – Champions and Prize-Holders of the XXX Olympiad of 2012 in London”. This silver coin with gilding has a nominal value 100 rubles and is presented by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and Moscow Mint of Goznak (Russia).

The third place is given to the coin “Chocolate” presented by the Australian company Downies. This rectangle silver 999° coin looks just like an unwrapped chocolate bar and even smells like chocolate.

Successful Artistic Solution

The winner is the Russian commemorative coin “The 250th Anniversary of the Foundation of the State Hermitage”. The complex of buildings of the State Hermitage in Saint Petersburg: the Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the Palace Square, the Alexander I Column and the facade of the General Staff Building are depicted on the reverse of the coin.

The second place is given by the Jury to the coin “Baccarat” minted by Monnaie de Paris of silver 999° with red resin insert.

The third place is given to the silver 925° coin dedicated to the 25th anniversary of The Baltic Way. The reverse of the coin shows the composition of geographical images of the Baltic countries with an artistic image of a road that looks like a tree trunk with exposed roots. The coin is minted by Lithuanian Mint.

Original Technology

The winner is the coin “FIFA World Cup” minted by Monnaie de Paris. The coin has a dome shape. On the obverse, the map of Brazil is cut out from a pattern composed of elements of indigenous flora and fauna. On the reverse, the Maracanã stadium is shown in aerial view.

The second place is given to the coin “Form” presented by The Bank of Lithuania. The reverse featured motifs of optical art, a spherical bead of silver is in the centre and rhythmically repetitive circles of different sizes are arranged at irregular intervals around it, providing an image of rotation, movement and space, optical illusion. Silver mirror flashes create an image of a spiral.

The third place in this nomination is given to the cross-shaped coin “Saint John Paul II”. The coin is minted by Mint of Poland on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the death of the Holy Father Saint John Paul the Great.

Coin Classic

The title of “the most classic coin” is given to the coin “Polish Olympic Team, Sochi 2014”. This coin is dedicated to the Polish team that represented Poland during XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

The second place is given to the coin “Napoléon III” by Monnaie de Paris. The coin belongs to the series dedicated to the French kings “From Clovis to the Republic - 1500 years of French history”.

The third place is given to the coin “State Historical Museum, the City of Moscow”. The coin with a nominal value 25 rubles was issued by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and was minted by Moscow Mint of Goznak (Russia).

Souvenir Coin

The professional Jury chose as “the most interesting souvenir coin” the coin “Wheel of Fortune” presented by the International Coin House AG (Switzerland). The coin has the shape of an ancient cart wheel (filigree, with the spokes). The coin is minted by B.H. Mayer’s Mint, Karlsfeld, Germany.

The second place is given to the coin “National Baseball Hall of Fame” minted by the United States Mint. The concave obverse depicts a glove, and a convex reverse depicts a baseball.

The third place is given to the Spanish coin “World Cup Brazil 2014”. The coin is dedicated to the victory of the national Spanish team in the World Cup 2010.

Series (issue) of the Year

The winner is the series “Aureus Novus” presented by the Papal Mint, Poland. On each reverse there is replica of ancient coin and the modern visualization of its subject. On each coin there is also Latin sentence connected with coin subject depicted on the coin. The coin is produced by B.H. Mayer’s Mint Karlsfeld, Germany.

The second place is given to the series “Herencia Numismática de México” which consists of 6 coins. The coins are produced by Casa de Moneda de México.

The third place is given to the series “The Oldest Trees of the World” presented for the contest by the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia and by Mint of Poland. On obverse of each coin the fruits of a certain type of the tree are pad-printed. The coins are minted by Mint of Poland.

Silver Coin of the Year

The winner is the coin “Form” presented by the Bank of Lithuania. Let us remind you that this coin also received the second place in the nomination “Original Technology”.

The second place is given to the coin “Baltic Way” presented by the Bank of Latvia. The coin is minted by Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (the Netherlands).

The third place is given to the coin “The Senate Palace of the Moscow Kremlin by M. Kazakov”. The coin is issued by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and minted by Saint Petersburg Mint of Goznak (Russia).

Gold Coin of the Year

The Gold Coin of the Year 2014 is the coin by Monnaie de Paris “Baccarat”. This coin is dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the crystalware manufacturer “Baccarat”. The insert is a red crystal octagon.

The second place the Jury gave to the gold coin “BALTISTIKA (Baltic Studies)” presented by the Bank of Lithuania. Baltic Studies are a complex science involving comparative research of the spiritual and material culture of the Baltic nations. The coin is minted by Lithuanian Mint.

The third place is given to the coin “Tercentenary of the Russian Fleet’s Victory in the Battle of Gangut”. The coin is minted by the Moscow Mint of Goznak by order of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.

Coin of the Year

The winner is the coin “The 450th Anniversary of the Birthday of Galileo Galilei”. It is dedicated to the jubilee of the great scientist of the XVI c.

The second place in the nomination “Coin of the Year” is given to the coin “Baccarat” designed and created by Monnaie de Paris. The coin has an original design and a red resin insert.

The third place in this nomination has the coin “Mother” issued by the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan and minted by the Kazakhstan Mint of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Special Prize from the Organizing Committee

Special Prize from the Organizing Committee 2015 is given to the coin “The First World War” presented by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus.

People’s Choice Award

The winner in the nomination People’s Choice Award was chosen by the results of the voting on www.Gold10.ru. It is the coin “Charlie Chaplin – 100 Years of Laughter” minted by The Perth Mint, Australia.

Leader in 2014 in local sales among the banks unlicensed for precious metals

An award in this category is given to the CB “RIAL-CREDIT”.

The organizer of the contest “Coin Constellation” is the Russian publishing house “Water Mark”, the publisher of the Gold Chervonets Magazine and the organizer of the International Conference and Exhibition COINS.

Media Partners: Gold Chervonets Magazine, Banks and Business World Magazine, National Banking Magazine, Numismatica Magazine, Analytical Banking Magazine, Monnaie Magazine, www.cgbfr.com and webzine The Bulletin Numismatique, InterCrim-press and Krause Publications Publishing Houses, Biblio-Globus Trading House, Almanac “Collector’s shop”, Molotok.ru, web-portal Investfunds, PLUS Journal.

CGB.fr is also co-organizer of COINS 2015