On 4 June 2013, the National Bank of Ukraine held the second and final stage of the Best Coin of the Year Competition (hereinafter referred to as the Competition) to select the best coins among the commemorative coins that were put into circulation in 2012. The winners were announced in the following categories: “Best Coin of the Year”, “Unique concept”, “Successful Artistic Solution”.
According to Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Vira Rychakivska, the Competition, which was launched in 2005, is gaining popularity. There is growing interest in the commemorative coins of Ukraine, both in Ukraine and overseas.
The First phase of the Competition ran from 21 January to 22 March 2013. Over 8 thousand people participated in the questionnaire-based voting. The completed questionnaires were accumulated inside the specially designed boxes installed at the regional branches of the National Bank of Ukraine (40 %), and the premises of banks acting as NBU’s distributors (50 %). The Association of Numismatists of Ukraine received 7% of the completed questionnaires. 3 % of the questionnaires were returned by email.
The following coins received a majority of the votes from the public: “Ukrainian Lyric Song” (silver and German silver), “UEFA EURO 2012TM Poland - Ukraine” (a set of two commemorative coins enclosed in a capsule), “The Year of the Snake” (silver), “Malva” (gold).
During the second phase of the Competition the jury panel comprised of experts from the National Bank of Ukraine, NBU Banknote Printing and Minting Works, members of the Council of Experts on the issues of commemorative coin design (honored designers, engravers, historians and other experts), and authorized representatives from the Association of Numismatists of Ukraine selected the winner (coin) in each category by secret ballot.
Before announcing the results of the final stage of the Competition, Ms. Vira Ruchakivska reminded that in 2012 the National Bank of Ukraine had put into circulation 37 names of commemorative coins, including one gold coin, 17 silver coins and 2 bimetal coins and 17 coins made of German silver
"The year 2012 will be remembered as the year when the coin in dual denomination of 10 hryvnias and 10 zlotych was issued, an unprecedented event in the history of Ukrainian and Polish numismatics. The joint project led by the National Bank of Ukraine was implemented due to the combined efforts of both central banks. The silver coin, together with another one, comprises a set of two commemorative coins enclosed in a capsule. The coin was put into circulation by both central banks on 4 June 2012, a few days before the first EURO 2012 football match," said Vira Rychakivska. She also noted that the commemorative coins issued by the National Bank of Ukraine cover a wide range of themes. The coins are devoted to outstanding personalities and events, historical monuments of Ukraine and international programs. So far, the National Bank of Ukraine has launched 28 series of commemorative coins and put 560 commemorative coins into circulation.
The winner in each category was determined by secret ballot. The following coins have won awards:
Category “Best Coin of the Year”– “Ukrainian Lyric Song”, silver, face value: 10 hryvnias; German silver, face value: 5 hryvnias, designers: Volodymyr Taran, Oleksandr Kharuk, Serhii Kharuk;
Category “Unique concept” – “UEFA EURO 2012TM Poland - Ukraine”, silver, face value: 10 hryvnias; designers: Volodymyr Taran, Oleksandr Kharuk, Serhii Kharuk;
Category "Successful Artistic Solution" – “Malva ”, gold, face value: 2 hryvnias, designer – Volodymyr Demianenko.