The design competition for the collector coin ‘Finnish currency 150 years’ was won by Reijo Paavilainen with his proposal “Insignia”

The Collector Coin committee set by the Finnish Ministry of Finance arranged a public competition for the designing of the golden collector coin, and received 19 proposals by the set deadline.

The competition was won by sculptor Reijo Paavilainen, who has been awarded for his work on many occasions. This time his proposal went under the name “Insignia”. The jury considered the symbolism and composition of Paavilainen’s proposal excellent, and described his depiction of the challenging lion-theme as highly successful.

”This collector coin is a tribute to the 150-year old Finnish currency. On the obverse side, I wanted to portray the Finnish lion from the coat of arms. The reverse side is a design of numbers that are found in the value markings of coins”, describes artist Paavilainen his proposal.

Second prize in the competition went to Pentti Mäkinen and his proposal ”Withdrawing to the left – the lion spirit is rising”. Third prize was awarded to the signature “Part of the flow of time”, which was designed by Reijo Paavilainen. In addition, awards were also given to Olavi Haapala for his proposal “Annual rings” and Pertti Mäkinen for his proposal “The meeting”.

The following persons were members of the jury for the collector coin Finnish currency 150 years: as chairman professor Yrjö Sotamaa from the University of Art and Design and as members CEO of Mint of Finland Ltd Maarit Aarni-Sirviö, Senior Budget Secretary from the Ministry of Finance Ms Marja Kirppu, curator of the Ateneum Art Museum Heikki Halme, and docent Maria Lähteenmäki from the Helsinki University department of History. As expert members participated Erik Bruun, Pekka Kauhanen, Katariina Rautiala, and Tuukka Talvio. Export and marketing assistant Sinikka Ravander from Mint of Finland Ltd functioned as secretary.

The golden collector coin Finnish currency 150 years will be launched in April. The nominal value of the coin is 100 euros, it weighs 5.65 g, has a diameter of 22 mm, and gold content of 91.7 percent.

The competition proposals are on display at the Helsinki University of Art and Design during 1st March to 5th of March, 2010. The address is Hämeentie 135 C, Helsinki.

COLLECTOR COIN COMMITTEE

For additional information, please contact:
In matters related to the Collector Coin Committee, the designing of collector coins, and similar, Professor Yrjö Sotamaa, University of Art and Design, Helsinki, tel. +358 (0)9 47 001, yrjo.sotamaa@taik.fi

Concerning sales, issued amounts, and questions related to technical matters, Mint of Finland Ltd, Export and marketing assistant Sinikka Ravander, tel. +358 (0)9 8943 4392, sinikka.ravander@mint.fi