| St. Andrey Rublev vs. St. Efrosinia of Polotsk |
The Saint-Petersburg and Moscow Mints of Goznak have announced that coins produced in 2007 will take part in the International Competition Coin Constellation-2008. Since April 15 till May 25, 2008, the preferential internet-voting for the commemorative coins of precious metals taking part in the 2nd International commemorative coin competition Coin Constellation-2008 will take place.
Anyone interested may take part in choosing the best (according to the internet-voting) out of more than 80 commemorative coins. All the coins taking part in the competition will be presented at www.coinconference.com. The coin with the maximum votes will receive the special “People’s Choice Award”. Besides, a prize – a commemorative coin of precious metal – will be given to one of the internet-voters.
The Competition Committee will choose the winners in six basic categories:
- The Coin of the Year,
- The Gold Coin of the Year,
- The Silver Coin of the Year,
- The Unique Conceptual Solution,
- The Successful Artistic Solution,
- The Original Technology.
“For the 300th anniversary of Khakassia’s voluntary becoming a part of Russia” and “For the 450th anniversary of Bashkiria’s becoming a part of Russia” coins with the face-value of 10 000 rubles produced at the Moscow Mint, as well as “The International Polar Year” (1000 rubles, the Saint-Petersburg Mint) were introduced to “The Unique Conceptual Solution” Category. The 3-ruble coin “For the 450th anniversary of Bashkiria’s becoming a part of Russia” (The Moscow Mint), “St. Andrey Rublev” (3 and 100 rubles) and the 100-ruble coin “The International Polar Year” (The Saint-Petersburg Mint) were introduced to “The Successful Artistic Solution” Category.
“St. Andrey Rublev” (100 rubles, the Saint-Petersburg Mint) and “The International Polar Year” (100 rubles, the Saint-Petersburg Mint) are qualified for the victory in “The Silver Coin of the Year” category.
“The Cross of St. Efrosinia of Polotsk” coin produced by the Moscow Mint under the order of the National Bank of Belarus is taking part in “The Original Technology” Category.
Coin Constellation is the only commemorative coin competition held within the territory of Russia. It is organized by Watermark Publishing House, issuing The Gold Chervonets Magazine about the commemorative coin market and The Watermark Magazine about security products.
Commemorative coins issued within the period of January 1 – December 31, 2007 could take part in the Competition. The National Banks and the Mints of the Countries of the CIS and Europe were able to submit the coins for the Competition (besides, the Organizational Committee is entitled to submit coins for the Competition Categories).
Comparing to the previous year, the number of coins has increased and the geography has expanded considerably this year (we would like to remind that 47 commemorative and jubilee coins from the Countries of the CIS and the Baltic States took part in Coin Constellation-2007).
This year the Mints of Denmark, Spain, Poland, Finland, Kazakhstan, Russia, the National Banks of Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Armenia, Kirgizia, Belarus, Ukraine, Transdniestria, as well as Coin Invest Trust Company (Lichtenstein) presented their coins for the Competition.
Experts of the largest museums of Europe and Asia, representatives of the well-known numismatic auction houses, specialized mass media of Russia and Europe joined the Organizational Committee. The winners of Coin Constellation-2008 will be announced at the 1st European Commemorative Coin Conference COINS-2008, which will take place in Saint-Petersburg on June 25-26. The People’s Choice Award will also be presented there.
