The winners of the 2017 Coin of the Year (COTY) competition have been announced, and Canada has earned the “Most Historically Significant Coin” for its 2015-dated $20 Fine silver coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of the iconic poem In Flanders Fields.
The COTY Award program was founded in 1984 by the Krause Publications, of Iola, Wisc., and has been held annually each year. Each year, awards are given for coins struck two years earlier. There are 10 categories, and three coins are selected in each category.
This year, Canada was nominated nine times. Aside from winning the category for “most historically significant coin,” Canada was also nominated for best bi-metallic coin; best circulating coin; best gold coin; best silver coin; most innovative coin; and most inspirational coin. What’s more, two Canadian coins were nominated for best contemporary event coin.
The Royal Canadian Mint’s 2015-dated ‘In Flanders Fields’ coin (obverse shown) was one of 10 2017 COTY winners.
2017 COTY HIGHLIGHTS
The U.S. and Finland each won two categories in the 2017 COTY competition.
Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Austria, and the Cook Islands also won a category.
- The U.S. won “Best Circulating Coin” for its America the Beautiful quarter honouring the Kisatchie National Forest. It also won “Most Inspirational Coin” for its March of Dimes silver dollar marking the 60th anniversary of the Salk polio vaccine.
- Finland won “Best Bi-Metallic Coin” for its five-euro piece depicting Lapland reindeer and “Best Silver Coin” for its 10-euro piece marking the 70th anniversary of peace after the Second World War.
- Great Britain won “Best Crown” for its cupro-nickel five-pound coin marking the 50th anniversary of the state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill.
- Italy won “Most Artistic Coin” for its 10 euro silver coin marking 70 years of peace in Europe.
- Japan won “Best Contemporary Event Coin” for its gold 10,000 yen piece commemorating the Great East Japan Earthquake reconstruction.
- Austria won “Best Gold Coin” for its 100 euro commemorating the Capercaille, a bird native to Austria.
- The Cook Islands won “Most Innovative Coin” for its silver $2 “black hole-shaped” coin with a magnetic sphere.
An international panel of judges will select one “Coin of the Year” from these 10 winners.
The award ceremony will take place on Feb. 4, 2017, at the World Money Fair in Berlin.