The results of the Third international commemorative coins contest “Coin Constellation-2009” were summed up on September, 24, 2009 in the Hermitage Theatre hall in St. Petersburg. The awarding ceremony had been carried out by the organizer of the contest, the Watermark Publishing House in association with the State Hermitage Museum.
Traditionally the best coins had been named in six major nominations: “Unique idea solution”, “Successful artistic solution”, “Original technology”, “Silver coin of the year”, “Gold coin of the year”, “Coin of the year”.
Also the People’s Choice Award, the award “For the contribution to the development of the market of precious metal coins” and the special award from the Organizing Committee of the contest had been presented.
“Coin Constellation” is the only commemorative coins contest taking place in the territoty of Russia.
The contest organizer is Watermark Publishing House.
Commemorative coins minted from January,1 till December, 31, 2007 could take part in the contest “Coin Constellation-2009”. Coins have been submitted to the contest by the national banks, mints and distributors. The winners have been determined by the contest committee which included the representatives of Russian and European museums, commercial banks, numismatic societies and the mass media.
In comparison with the first contest “Coin Constellation” that took place in 2007, the amount of the coins presented to the contest have grown fourfold: 176 coins were submitted to the “Coin constellation-2009”. The geography of the contest participants broadened up to 21 country: besides Russia, there are such countries as Australia, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Denmark, Spain, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland, France, Ukraine and others.
The winners by the result of the contest are:
Nomination “Unique idea solution” – the silver coin . The coin is presented by the Bank of Lithuania, the nominal value is 50 Litas, the circulation is 10000 pcs, minted at the Lithuanian Mint. On the obverse and reverse there are monuments of the Lithuanian cross craftsmen included by UNESCO into the List of Masterpieces of the oral and Intangible Heritage of humanity.
Nomination “Successful artistic solution” – the first place has been shared by the silver coins (presented by the Pobjoy Mint, the nominal value is 1 Crown (Island of Man) , the circulation is 25000 pcs) and (presented by the National Bank of Poland, the nominal value is 10 Zloty, the circulation is 135000 pcs, minted at the Mint of Poland).
The coin “Tutankhamun Sterling Silver Canopic Coffinette with Cartouches” has got the shape of triangle. On its obverse besides the effigy of Elizabeth II there are hieroglyphics found in the Tutankhamun’s tomb. On the reverse there is one of the Tutankhamun’s coffinette with two cartouches which spell in hieroglyphics the young pharaoh’s name Tutankhamun, and his throne name Nebkheperure.
On the obverse of the coin “The Siberian Exiles” there are stylized image of people and the inscription which means in the translation from Polish “…we were a nameless crowd”. On the reverse there are stylized images of forests. At the bottom a zirconia crystal is incrusted.
Nomination “Original technology” – the silver coin . The coin has been presented by the the National Bank of Poland, the nominal value is 10 Zloty, the circulation is 126000 pcs, minted at the Mint of Poland. in the centre, on the glass core there is a stylized image of a man blowing glassware. On the metallic part of the coin (obverse) there are fragments of a stylized map of Virginia, images of settlers and Indians. On the reverse there are stylized images of men smelting glass, ships and newly-arrived settlers.
Nomination “Silver coin of the year” – the presented by the Bank of Latvia. The nominal value is 1 Lat, circulation is 5000 pcs, minted at the Mint of Finland. On the obverse on the background of the city roofs there is a cat. On the reverse against the background of rooftops, in the centre a chimney-sweep is holding a ladder, a coil of rope and a brush with weight in his hands. It is considered that meeting a chimney-sweep brings you a good luck.
Nominations “Gold coin of the year”and “Coin of the year” – the coin . It is presented by the St. Petersburg Mint, the branch of Goznak. The nominal value is 25000 Rubles. Circulation is 50 pcs. This is the first in Russia gold coin that weights 3 kilos. On its obverse besides the emblem of the Bank of Russia there are images of paper money and coins. On the reverse there is the enterprises’ complex of the Expedition of Storing State Papers and also the banknotes composition.
The People’s Choice Award by the results of voting on the website in 2009 has been given to the gold coin presented by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus. The nominal value of the coin is 50 Belorussian rubles, the circulation is 1000 pcs, minted at the Mint of Poland. Four synthetic crystals are inserted in the coin.
The owner of the special award from the Organizing Committee of the contest became the silver oval coin represented by Coin Invest Trust company (Liechtenstein). Its nominal value is 5 dollars of the Republic of Palau, the circulation is 2500 pcs, minted at one of the German mints.
The award “For the contribution to the development of the market of precious metal coins” was given to Igor Sergeevich Komshilov, a medalist, an engraver, a sculptor who had been working at St. Petersburg Mint for 67 years, the representative of the famous dynasty of the Komshilovs. Igor Sergeevich Komshilov took part in the creation of hundreds of coins and medals. Today he teaches the skill of engraving to students of the Sculpture Department of the State Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after I.Repin.
From the history of the “Coin constellation” contest
For the first time the “Coin constellation” contest took place in 2007. 47 commemorative and jubilee coins from 11 countries took part in it.
In 2008 80 coins from 15 countries participated in it.
In 2009 176 coins were represented to the contest. The application forms came from 24 participants representing 21 country.
About the Watermark Company
The Watermark Publishing House was founded in 2002. Its first project became the issuing of the security printing products magazine “Watermark”.
Today Watermark:
- publishes the magazine on security printing products Watermark
- publishes the magazine on coins and medals “Golden Chervonets”
- carries out the international conference on security printing Watermark Conference
- carries out the international conference on commemorative coins COINS
- carries out the international commemorative coins contest “Coin Constellation”.
