MoF hat geschrieben:Collector Coin Committee announces: Silver collector coin to be issued in honour of Mika Waltari in the autumn. Reijo Paavilainen’s interpretation “Guardian of the Text” won the design competition. (12.5.2008)
This autumn it will be 100 years since the birth of author Mika Waltari. The Collector Coin Committee, authorised by the Ministry of Finance, held an open competition for the design of a collector coin. By the deadline at the end of April, 27 entries had been received, and from these the proposal by Reijo Paavilainen, who has designed a number of Finnish collector coins, was chosen as the best.
The jury chose the proposal named “Guardian of the Text” as the best out of the entries received. Behind this name was sculptor Reijo Paavilainen, who has designed the A. E. Nordenskiöld and Mikael Agricola collector coins, among others. The jury announced that both obverse and reverse sides of Paavilainen’s entry constituted an integral whole and particular praise was given in their assessment to the Waltari-style humility and passion that emerges from the details of the design.
Second prize in the competition was awarded to the proposal “Who Am I”, which was also designed by Reijo Paavilainen. Third prize went to the proposal “I Was Young and Eager”, designed by Pirkko Viitasalo.
Awards for merit were also granted for two entries, Reijo Paavilainen’s “Waltari the Finn” and “Nile Water in the Window”, designed by Tapio Kettunen.
The following persons were members of the jury for the Mika Waltari collector coin: chairman Yrjö Sotamaa, Rector of the University of Art and Design, with members Senior Budget Secretary from the Ministry of Finance Marja Kirppu, Docent Maria Lähteenmäki from the University of Helsinki Department of History, Curator Heikki Malme from the Ateneum Art Museum, and Raimo Makkonen from Mint of Finland Ltd. Acting as expert members were Joel Elstelä as representative of the Waltari estate, with Pekka Manner, Pertti Metsälampi and Juha van Ingen. Communications Manager Outi Arola from Mint of Finland Ltd served as secretary.
The competition proposals will be on display at the Helsinki University of Art and Design 19 – 23 May 2008. The address is Hämeentie 135 C, Helsinki.

COLLECTOR COIN COMMITTEE

Further information:
On matters related to the Collector Coin Committee, the designing of collector coins, and similar: Chairman of the Collector Coin Committee Yrjö Sotamaa, Rector of the University of Art and Design, Helsinki, tel. +358 9 975 631, yrjo.sotamaa@uiah.fi
Concerning sales, issued amounts, and questions related to technical matters:
Mint of Finland Ltd, Outi Arola, Corporate Communications Manager, tel. +358 9 8943 4387, outi.arola@mint.fi

Rahapaja Oy hat geschrieben:The silver Mika Waltari collector coin was launched at the main event of the jubilee year held at the Old Student House in Helsinki (22.9.2008)
On the 19th September, one hundred years have passed since the birth of writer Mika Waltari. In honour of the 100-year anniversary of his birth, a 10 euro silver collector coin was launched at a celebration arranged in Helsinki by the Mika Waltari association.

Professor Matti Klinge and the CEO of Mint of Finland Ltd Maarit Aarni-Sirviö launched the collector coin.

Altogether 27 proposals arrived to the open design competition before the deadline at the end of April. The jury, which included Joel Elstelä as a representative of the Waltari family, selected a work by Reijo Paavilainen as the winner.

The reverse side of the coin depicts a vigilant Pharaoh watchdog, after which Paavilainen named his work ”Tekstinvartija” (“Text guard”). The obverse side is decorated with the signature of Waltari and a stylized pen nib that according to the artist describes the diversity of the writer’s production.

The diameter of the coin is 38.6 millimeters and it weighs 25.5 grammas. The silver coin is made of an alloy that contains 925 per mille silver of the total weight.

The collector coin is minted to a maximum of 20 000 pieces, of which 15 000 are minted in proof-quality and 5000 in bu-quality.

The coin is launched on 22nd September, 2008.