U.S. Mint gets one COTY chance

The U.S. Mint has just one nominee in the race for the Coin of the Year Award to be given Feb. 2, 2013, at the World Money Fair in Berlin, Germany.

Flying the flag for the USA is the Olympic National Park quarter of 2011, which was nominated in the Most Popular coin category.

Over all, there were 99 other nominations from around the world of 2011-dated coins eligible for this year’s award, sponsored by World Coin News, a sister paper to Numismatic News published by Krause Publications.

Ten nominations were finalized in each of 10 categories by the nominating committee, which met Oct. 12 in Iola, Wis.

An electronic ballot to choose winners in the 10 categories will be sent to an international panel of judges. Their selections in this first round of judging will then be put on a final ballot to determine the winner of the 2013 COTY Award.

The COTY Award was first given in 1984 to honor the best in coin design from around the world. Contenders represent the highest achievement in theme, design and marketing from mints and central banks.

Expanded, with 216 added pages and hundreds of new listings and images.

The international panel of judges is comprised of mint and museum officials, journalists and individual numismatists.

The following are nominees for the 2013 Krause Publications’ Coin of the Year Awards:

Most Historically Significant Coin
1. Germany – KM# 296, 10 Euro Silver, 125th Anniversary of the Automobile
2. France – KM# 1795, 10 Euro Silver, Jacques Cartier Explorer
3. Canada – KM# 1087, 1 Dollar Silver, 100th Anniversary of Canada Parks
4. Bulgaria – KM# 314, 10 Leva, Silver, Khan Krum
5. Falkland Islands – KM# 158, 1 Crown, Copper-Nickel Amundsen South Pole
6. Great Britain – KM# 1200, 2 Pounds, Bi-Metallic Copper Nickel, Nickel Brass, King James Bible
7. Australia – Royal Australian Mint – KM# 1642, 20 Cents, Copper-Nickel, 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day
8. Italy – KM# 341, 5 Euro, Silver, Italy Unification
9. Czech Republic – KM# 120, 200 Korun, Silver, 100th Anniversary of Flight – Jana Kaspara
10. Kyrgyzstan – KM# 48, 10 Som, Silver, Silk Road

Best Contemporary Event
1. France – KM# 1785, 10 Euro Silver, Euro Starter Kit
2. Netherlands – KM# 301, 5 Euro Silver, 50th Anniversary of World Wildlife Fund
3. Australia – Royal Australian Mint - KM# 1528, One Dollar Silver, Gallipoli
4. Great Britain – KM# 1202, 5 pounds, Copper-Nickel, Olympic Countdown
5. Poland – Y# 771, 20 Zlotych, Silver, Smolensk Plane Crash
6. Austria – KM# 3204, 25 Euro, Bi-Metallic, Mars Rover
7. Estonia – KM# 71, 10 Euro Silver, Estonia’s Future
8. Russia – Y# 1087, 3 Rubles, Silver, Yuri Gagarin First Man in Space
9. Kazakhstan – KM# 216, 50,000 Tenge, Gold, 20th Anniversary of Independence
10. Ukraine – KM# 630, 100 Hryven, Gold, 20th Anniversary of Independence

Best Gold Coin
1. Austria – KM# 3202, 50 Euro, Gold, Joanneum Museum
2. Australia – Perth Mint – KM# 1611, 25 Dollars, Gold, Square Platypus Dreaming
3. Fiji – KM# 215, One Ounce Bullion, Gold, Beach Scene
4. Israel – KM# 491, One Ounce Bullion, Gold, Lion and Western Wall
5. Slovakia – KM# 119, 100 Euro, Prince Pribina Nitra
6. South Africa – KM# 511, 50 Rand, Gold, Mircats
7. Canada – KM# 1165, 200 Dollars, Gold, Canada, Mountie on Horseback
8. Czech Republic – KM# 125, 5,000 Korun, Gold, Stribro Bridge
9. Vatican City – KM# 432, 50 Euro, Gold, Crucifixion of Saint Peter
10. France – KM# 1817, 50 Euro, Gold, TGV Express Train

Best Silver Coin
1. Armenia – KM# 196, 500 Dram, One Ounce Silver, Noah’s Ark
2. Canada – KM# 1176, 20 Dollar, Silver, Canoe and Reflection
3. Andorra – KM# 326, 5 Diners, Silver, Golden Eagle – Wildlife of the Pyrenees
4. Turkey – KM# 1274 50 Lira, Silver, Hejaz Railway
5. China – KM# 1972, 10 Yuan, Silver, Year of the Rabbit
6. South Korea – KM# 121, 50,000 Won, Silver, Jeju Volcano and Lava Tubes
7. Australia – Perth Mint– KM# 1605, One Dollar, One Ounce, Silver, Hi-Relief Concave Kangaroo
8. Netherlands – KM# 304, 5 Euro, Silver, Queen Looking Through the Window
9. Somali Republic – KM# 230, 100 Shillings, Elephant Bullion Coin
10. Belarus – KM# 380, 20 Rubles, Silver, Arabic Dance

Best Crown Coin
1. Great Britain – KM# 1201, 5 Pounds, Copper-Nickel, Prince Philip 90th Birthday
2. Armenia – KM# 99, 1,000 Dram, Colorized Silver, Poppy Plant
3. Slovakia – KM# 117, 10 Euro, Silver, 100th Anniversary of Jan Cikker’s Birth
4. France – KM# 1802, 10 Euro, Silver, Charlemagne
5. Portugal – KM# 808, 10 Euro, Silver, Spain and Portugal Entry into the E.U.
6. Fiji – KM# 210, 5 Dollars, Silver, Map of Berlin
7. Latvia – KM# 122, 1 Lats, Silver, Riga City View
8. Russia – Y# 1294, 3 Rubles, Silver, Sochi Olympics Alpine Skiing
9. Cook Islands – KM# 1403, 20 Dollars, Silver, Franz Marc Blue Horse
10. Ireland – KM# 67, 10 Euro, Silver, St. Brendan The Navigator

Best Trade Coin
1. Great Britain – KM# 1196, 50 Pence, Copper- Nickel, World Wildlife Fund
2. Latvia – KM# 119, 1 Lats, Copper-Nickel, Beer Stein
3. Peru – KM# 346, Nuevo Sol, Copper-Nickel, Monastery of Santa Catalina
4. Poland – KM# 792, 2 Zlote, Silesian Uprising
5. Greece – KM# 239, 2 Euro, Copper-Nickel, Special Olympics
6. Lithuania – KM# 177, 1 Litas, Copper-Nickel, Basketball
7. Russia – Y# 1298, 25 Rubles, Copper-Nickel, Sochi Olympics 2014
8. Denmark – KM# 941, 20 Kroner, Aluminum-Bronze, Ship Hjejlen
9. Uruguay – KM# 134, 10 Pesos Uruguayos, Bi-Metallic Brass, Puma and the Sunrise
10. China – KM# 1992, 5 Yuan, Brass, 90th Anniversary of the Communist Party

Most Popular Coin
1. France – KM# 1823, 10 Euro, Silver, 50th Anniversary Andy Warhol
2. Great Britain – KM# 1203, 5 Pounds, Copper-Nickel, Royal Wedding
3. Great Britain – KM# 1193, 50 Pence, London Olympics – Offside Rule
4. Niue- New Zealand Mint – KM# 654, 1 Dollar, Silver-Plated Copper, Star Wars Series – Yoda
5. United States – KM# 496, 25 Cents, Copper-Nickel Clad, Olympic National Park
6. Tuvalu – Perth Mint – KM# 195, 1 Dollar, Silver, Working Dogs – Beagle
7. Mongolia – KM# 309, 500 Tugrik, Silver, Owl’s Head With Crystal Eyes
8. Poland – Y# 773, 20 Zlotych, Silver, Pope John Paul II Beatification
9. Austria – KM# 3195, 5 Euro, Silver, Pummerin Bell
10. China – KM# 1980, 10 Yuan, Silver, Panda Bullion Coin

Most Artistic Coin
1. Slovenia – KM# 102, 30 Euro, Silver, 20th Anniversary of Independence
2. Lithuania – KM# 175, 10 Litu, Silver, Comedy and Tragedy
3. Latvia – KM# 120, Lats, Silver Square, Aleksandris Caks
4. France – KM# 1809, 10 Euro, Silver, Palace of Versailles
5. Czech Republic – KM# 121, 200 Korun, 500th Anniversary of the Birth of Jiri Melantrich
6. Canada – KM# 1131, 5 Dollars, Silver, Fall Moon
7. Fiji – KM# 151, 2 Dollars, Silver, Hawksbill Taku Sea Turtle
8. Kazakhstan – KM# 215, 500 Tenge, Silver, Sturgeon Fish
9. France – KM# 1835, 10 Euro, Silver, Comic Strip 13
10. Finland – KM# 166, 10 Euro, Silver, Kaj Franck

Most Innovative Coinage
1. Benin – KM# 73, 1,000 Francs, Silver, Cannabis Leaf in Green
2. Cameroon – KM# 50, 1,000 Francs, Silver, Butterfly with 3-D Movable Wings
3. Latvia – KM# 126, Lats, Silver, Granite Rock Insert
4. Fiji – KM# 177, 1 Dollar, Silver, Filigree Rabbit
5. Netherlands – KM# 302, 5 Euro, Silver, Screw Press with QR Code
6. Lao People’s Democratic Republic – KM# 152, Lunar Year of the Rabbit With Jade Ring
7. Australia – Royal Australian Mint – KM# 1547, 20 Cents, Cricket
8. Cook Islands – KM# 1381, 5 Dollars, Silver, Muonionalusta Meteor
9. Niue – KM# 741, One Dollar, Silver, Key-Shaped Cat Walking Through Door
10. Togo – KM# 62, 100 Francs, Colorized Silver, Prism Lion

Most Inspirational Coinage
1. Palau – KM# 347, One Dollar, Silver, Beatification of John Paul II
2. Kyrgyzstan – KM# 49, 10 Som, Colorized Silver, World of Our Children
3. Cook Islands – KM# 1353, 5 Dollars, Colorized Silver, Vertical Rectangle, Patron Saints – Mary Magdalene
4. Poland – y# 796, 10 Zlotych, Silver, 100th Anniversary of the Society for the Protection of the Blind
5. Canada – KM# 1090, 3 Dollars, Bi-Metallic Silver, Eskimo Mother and Child
6. British Virgin Islands – KM# 406, 10 Dollars, Silver, World Trade Center Memorial
7. Great Britain – KM# 1187, 50 Pence, Silver, Paralympics Wheelchair Rugby
8. Canada – KM# 1149, 5 Dollar, Gold, Norman Bethune
9. Ukraine – KM# 617, 20 Hryven, Silver, Peresopnytsia Gospels
10. Finland – KM# 165, 10 Euros, Silver, Hella Wuolijiki.