2020-02-07
The Bank of Lithuania’s collector coins won awards in two categories at the World Money Fair 2020 held in Berlin. The four-coin set dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence was named Most Innovative Coin, while the €5 silver coin dedicated to Joninės (Rasos) won Best Silver Coin. The 37th annual Coin of the Year (COTY) awards conducted by the American publisher Krause Publications honoured coins dated 2018.
100 nominees were selected from more than 1,000 coins submitted for consideration by 45 issuing entities across the globe: 10 coins in each of the 10 award categories. The winners were announced by an international panel of judges comprised of more than 100 experts, including journalists and professional technicians.
“The mere fact that the Lithuanian collector coins were listed among the top 100 nominees and the country was mentioned next to such leaders in coin mintage as the United Kingdom, France and Australia is a great achievement, not to mention the received awards in two different categories. We hope that these awards and worldwide recognition will inspire everyone working in numismatics to pursue new creative endeavours,” said Deivis Stankevičius, Chairman of the Coin Creation Commission at the Bank of Lithuania.
The Lithuanian collector coin series dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence won in the category for Most Innovative Coin. The unique set of coins consists of three ring-shaped silver coins with the fourth – gold – coin in the middle. The latter commemorates the signatories of the Act of Independence, while the silver coins are dedicated to Diplomacy, Armed Forces and Militarised Organisations as well as the Legal System. The four coins designed by Liudas Parulskis fit together to complete a single composition.
The coin dedicated to the Lithuanian midsummer celebration Joninės (Rasos) was awarded as the Best Silver Coin. It was designed by Eglė Ratkutė. The reverse of the coin depicts symbols characteristic of Joninės: a blooming fern, the moon, the sun and a greenery wreath that twist into a whirlwind with a stylised fern blossom, as if peeking through a drop of dew, in its centre. The obverse features the coat of arms of the Republic of Lithuania.
The awarded Lithuanian coins were minted at the Lithuanian Mint where the Latvian Honey coin – named Most Artistic Coin and Coin of the Year – was produced as well.
More information on the collector and commemorative coins issued by the Bank of Lithuania can be found here. The coins are available for purchase on the Bank of Lithuania e-shop.