Canada?s destiny was in the stars as it won the 2008 Coin of the Year Award sponsored by World Coin News, a sister publication to Numismatic News.
A four-piece set of $50 palladium coins showing the Big Bear and Little Bear constellations in changing seasonal positions was voted the winner in the second round of balloting by an international panel of judges. They are KM-672-675 in the Standard Catalog of World Coins identification system.
The Royal Canadian Mint overcame what some see as a handicap in the voting: after the first round of voting it had winners in two of 10 categories to choose from, potentially splitting the vote.
Formal recognition of the winning coin and winning mint will occur Feb. 2 in Berlin, Germany, at the World Money Fair.
Another award, the People?s Choice Award, will also be given. Because voting was conducted online, the closing date had not arrived as this issue of Numismatic News went to press.
The voting is spirited and of a markedly international character.
Winners of both awards and the winners of the 10 categories in the first round of judgment from the international panel will be recognized in a special ceremony.
All of the coins are dated 2006, the year reviewed. Nominations for 2007 coins should be sent to Lisa Bellavin at Lisa.Bellavin@fwpubs.com.
Changing positions in the night sky, constellations move with the seaons on this set of four $50 palladium coins issued by the Royal Canadian Mint. Judges gave the set the COTY Award.
