The results of the contest «Coin Constellation 2022»

The results of the XVI Coin Constellation summed up. 21 participants from 17 countries of the world presented their coins. This is less than last year. However, the picture has remained invariably diverse, rich and very interesting.

The Coin Constellation is the only international commemorative coin competition held in Russia. In 2022, the competition is being held for the sixteenth time, and it can be stated that over the years it has become one of the most authoritative in the world.

The organizer of the contest is the publishing house "Water Mark" (Russia). The winners are determined by a professional jury consisting of specialists from the largest museums, auction houses, numismatic societies, commercial banks, specialized publications about coins.

In 2022, the jury traditionally determined the winners who took first, second and third places in nine main nominations: "Unique Concept", "The Best Artistic Solution", "Original Technology", "The Best Circulation Coin", "Coin classics", "Souvenir Coin", "Silver Coin of the Year", "Gold Coin of the Year", "Coin of the Year".

The tenth nomination – "Audience Award" – was determined by the results of voting on our website www.Gold10.ru (voting took place from July 15 to September 15).

The competition was attended by coins issued from January 1 to December 31, 2021. The absentee voting of the members of the international expert jury on the basis of the images and descriptions of coins submitted by the contestants determined the winners.


"Unique concept"

Getting into the nomination "Unique Concept" is not an easy goal. The coin can be made of any metal; the technologies used by its creators do not matter. The main thing is the idea and the depth of implementation.

This time, the topics most interestingly and originally revealed on the coins turned out to be (somewhat unexpectedly) robots, white sharks and the tragedy in Chernobyl.

The first place in the nomination "Unique concept" was taken by the coin "Robots", minted by Artisan Coin Productions (USA).

The second place was awarded to the coin "Great White Shark" from CIT Coin Invest AG (Liechtenstein).

The third place in the nomination "Unique concept" was taken by a coin called "Chernobyl — human tragedies". It was presented to the contest by the Mint of Gdansk.


"The best artistic solution"

Coins in this category were evaluated in terms of artistry, harmony and beauty. The nomination turned out to be really very spectacular coins dedicated to people of art or works of art.

The winner in this nomination was the coin "100th anniversary of the birth of Janos Pilinski, one of the greatest Hungarian poets of the XX century", which was minted and submitted to the contest by the Hungarian Mint.

Second place – the coin "Young girl in green", presented by Power Coin (Italy).

The third place was taken by the coin "100th anniversary of the birth of Arno Babajanyan" issued by the Central Bank of Armenia.


"Original technology"

The first place in this nomination, where the quality of execution, the use of innovative technologies and materials were evaluated, was shared by two coins: "Hydropower" presented by Swiss Federal Mint and the "European Year of Railways" presented by The Royal Mint of Belgium.

On the second place is the coin "50th anniversary of the invention of the microprocessor" from ART MINT (France).

The third place was awarded to the coin "Black Hole – Universe", it is represented by the Gdansk Mint.


"The best circulation coin"

In this nomination, coins made of base metals directly used in cash circulation were evaluated. The circulation coin "100th Anniversary of the South African Reserve Bank" was recognized as the first in this nomination from the South African Mint.

The second place among the best circulation coins was taken by the coin "Oil and gas Industry Worker". The coin, minted at the Moscow Mint (a branch of Goznak JSC), was presented to the contest by the Central Bank of Russia. The second place in the nomination "Best circulating coin" is shared with the coin of the Central Bank of Russia by the coin "Zubr" presented by The National Bank of the Republic of Belarus.

Third place – the coin "Creativity of Yuri Nikulin", issued by the Central Bank of Russia, the coin was minted at the Moscow Mint.


"Coin classics"

The main condition in this nomination is the compliance of the coin with the classical canons of medal art.

The jury chose the coin "200th anniversary of the death of Napoleon Bonaparte" as the winner, ART MINT (France).

The second place was taken by the investment gold coin "Coat of Arms of Australia", presented by the Royal Australian Mint.

The third place was taken by the silver coin of the St. Petersburg Mint "800th anniversary of the birth of Prince Alexander Nevsky", which was issued by the Central Bank of Russia.


"Souvenir coin"

In this nomination, the marketing potential of the coin and the interest of the general consumer in it were evaluated. Coins issued as souvenirs participate in the nomination. They can be designed not only for collectors, but also for a wider audience. These are coins of various shapes, made including using non-standard technologies (inserts, pad printing, enameling, thermal printing, etc.).

The first place in this nomination was given to the coin "60th anniversary of the first human flight into space". The coin issued by the Central Bank of Russia and was minted at the Moscow Mint (a branch of Goznak JSC).

The second place was awarded to the "Year of the Tiger" coin, presented by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus.

The third place was awarded to the Hungarian Magyar coin, which was minted and submitted to the contest by the Hungarian Mint.


"Silver Coin of the Year"

The best silver coins, which turned out to be the winners in this nomination, meet the following criteria: a decent overall impression of the coin, thoroughness of the topic, original design, artistic execution, quality of manufacture.

The winner in the nomination is the coin "Creativity of Yuri Nikulin", presented by The Central Bank of Russia, minted at the St. Petersburg Mint ‒ a branch of Goznak JSC.

The second place among the best silver coins is occupied by the "Fundamental Law of Hungary", issued by The Hungarian Mint.

The third place in the nomination "Silver Coin of the Year" is shared between two coins: "Ecstasy of St. Teresa", presented by Power Coin (Italy) and "Babylon ‒ Lost Civilizations", presented by NumisCollect (Netherlands).


"Gold Coin of the Year"

The best gold coins were selected according to the same criteria as the silver ones: the overall impression of the coin, the elaboration of the topic, design, artistic execution, quality of manufacture.

The winner in the nomination is a 999.9-th gold coin "800th anniversary of the birth of Prince Alexander Nevsky". The coin of the Central Bank of Russia was minted at the St. Petersburg Mint - a branch of Goznak JSC.

The second place in the "golden" nomination is shared by two coins – "Fireman", issued by CIT Coin Invest AG (Liechtenstein) and "Australian Stingray", issued by Downies Collectables Pty Ltd (Australia).

The third place went to the coin "Saint Elizabeth of Hungary", which is represented by the Hungarian Mint.


"Coin of the Year"

For this nomination, the jury selected coins based on the extent to which they became an event of the numismatic market in 2021 – taking into account the chosen topic, design, and used technology. The coins could be made of any metal.

The winner in the nomination "Coin of the Year" is the coin "100th anniversary of the birth of Arno Babajanyan", issued by The Central Bank of Armenia. By an amazing coincidence, the same coin also received the Audience Award, which, of course, makes it exceptional in the «Coin Constellation 2022» contest.

The second place in the nomination is awarded to the coin of the Central Bank of Russia "60th anniversary of the first human flight into space", which was minted at the St. Petersburg Mint - a branch of Goznak JSC.

The third place in the nomination "Coin of the Year" is awarded to the coin "Thank you for life!", it was issued by the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic.