The latest design competition of the Finnish Collector Coin Committee came to an interesting conclusion: The two designs that won the (anonymous) competition, and the design that was awarded the third prize, turned out to be from the same artist.

Reijo Paavilainen's design "Plus" will be used for a €100 gold coin, and his design "Common Rhythm" will be on a €5 bimetallic coin. More information about the competition and the designs is here:
http://www.mint.fi/en/press-releases/1870/

The €5 coin design: http://www.mint.fi/en/documents/2220/2P_Yhteinen+rytmiMV.jpg


The €100 coin design: http://www.mint.fi/en/documents/2219/1P_+PlusMV.jpg


Christian

The first one looks like piles of dog poo arranged in shapes.

maybe they dont have the money for good desginers so they settled with kindergardeners hehe

i like the second 1

I don't like any lol

Guess that most people who like, say, 19c coins a lot will not really appreciate pieces like these ones. Many Finnish coins have a somewhat sober look. Also, an anniversary of some famous person's birth or death is usually easier to visualize than an "abstract" occasion like this one.

Of these designs, I might like the €5 piece. Of course I would like to see (images of) both coins later, not just these plaster models, and then say "great" or "urks", hehe. The figure on the €100 coin looks like a cross between a Miró painting and a Calder sculpture to me - interesting but I wonder how it is occasion related ...

Christian

They just look a bit too modern and plain to me. Better than other coins I have seen though, be a welcome change to find one of those in my pocket!
Perhaps the occasion is of the abstract street lamp...

There have been rumors recently that, in addition to the bimet and gold collector coins, Finland will also issue a €2 commemorative coin on this occasion. That one could be issued in December. We'll see ...

Christian

Neither of them really appeal to me either. Especially knowing what they would cost me. Actually, the desing for the €5 is not bad; I do like the design of the boat on the reverse. But overall . . . well, let me just say that I'm more than content with my decision to stop actively collect the new commems.

I have not heard anything about that. Then again, I have not been as connected with the events in the current issues as I have been. If I learn anything I will post something.

As for that €2 issue, don't ask me. On 27-Aug, Gerhard Schön (the catalog author) posted that info to a German forum. According to what he learned from the Finnish Mint, the Minister of Finance has not agreed yet, but that "seems to be very likely". Theoretically member states are to notify the EU (that means the Commission, I guess) of such planned issues six months in advance. But that is not a "must", so maybe we will actually see another €2 piece by - and close to - the end of the year ...

Christian

Yes, three pieces will indeed be issued on this occasion - the two "national" collector coins above, and one "European" €2 commemorative. Here is the official word from the Finnish Ministry of Finance:

http://www.vm.fi/vm/fi/03_tiedotteet_ja_pu...Kahden/name.jsp
(Finnish version)
http://www.vm.fi/vm/sv/03_pressmeddelanden...Ettspe/name.jsp
(Swedish version)

The design will be similar to that of the €5 collector coin:


http://www.vm.fi/vm/fi/03_tiedotteet_ja_pu...erikoiseuro.JPG

Christian

2 million of the €2 pieces to be issued.