40th Coin of the Year Trivia

1. Which mint won the very first COTY overall award?

The U.S. Mint won the very first overall COTY award with their 1982 half dollar commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Birth of George Washington. This was the first commemorative coin issued by the U.S. Mint since the mid 1950’s. This coin won both the Most Historically Significant and the Most Popular categories in the 1984 awards, so its overall win was not much of a surprise.

2. Which Mint has won the most COTY trophies?

Austria has the most wins with 53 trophies. Four of those are Coin of the Year trophies. The U.S. comes in second place with 51 trophies, seven of which are overall wins. Last but not least, France’s Monnaie de Paris has 31 trophies with five overall wins. That is some tough competition!

3. Which Mint has won the most COTY Overall wins?

The U.S. has the most Coin of the Year overall awards, with seven of their 51 being Coin of the Year trophies. Don't be quick to dismiss the countries with fewer, however. They may not have as many nominations, but when they do, they often steal the show. The ratio to category wins and overall wins is not always in favor of the countries that submit large numbers for nomination.

4. What year was the first COTY tie?

In 1985, Egypt’s 100 Pound Cleopatra coin tied with China’s 100 Yuan Panda coin for the Best Gold category. There have been a few more ties in COTY history, but in recent years as both the judges panel and the nominating committee grew and became more diverse, they are not as common.

5. What were the original Coin of the Year Categories?

In the very beginning, COTY only had 6 categories: Most Historically Significant, Most Popular, Most Artistic, Best Gold, Best Silver, and Best Crown.

6. What Coin of the Year Categories do not exist anymore?

The categories have evolved over the years to reflect the ever-changing market. The Most Popular category honored coins that had high commercial value. It was removed after the 2013 awards. Best Trade was introduced in 1987 but was also removed after 2013. In 2014 Best Trade became Best Circulating.

7. When was the Most Innovative category added?

In 1990, the first winner of the Most Innovative category was Albania with their 50-Leke silver Railroads coin. There was no winner for this category in 1991, but it came back in 1992 with a win from Isle of Man for their 1 crown Penny Black Cupronickel coin.

8. What was the last category to be added, creating the ten categories we know today?

The Best Bi-Metallic category was added in 2014. The first coin to win this category was Finland with their 50-euro Silver & Gold Helsinki-World Design Capital coin. 

9. Which single coin has been the only recipient of a Special Recognition for Merit of Design by COTY?

In 1994 the South African Mint struck a coin which displayed the process of coin blanks being cut from a sheet of metal. This popular 1992 proof silver 2 Rand is the only coin to receive Special Recognition for Merit of Design.