Coin of the Year 2026
On 27 August 2026, the award ceremony for the best coins of the year 2025 took place as part of the World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh. We present the winners here.
Coin of the Year
The overall victory went to a Chinese 10-yuan coin, which combines a very classic motif – the Great Wall of China and a dragon – with the finest background textures.
Most Historically Significant
As in 2025, the winner was an emission from the ‘The White Gold of Hallstatt’ series, issued by the Austrian Coin Museum. It skilfully translates the typical East Celtic style into a modern design that is struck on coins.
Best Contemporary Event Coin
As in 2025, Notre Dame once again touched the hearts of the jury members this year. Last year, the Monnaie de Paris had also won this category with a Notre Dame theme.
Best Gold Coin
In the Best Gold Coin category, the US Mint triumphed with a truly spectacular design. With his modernisation of the American eagle, Christopher Polentz created a design that combines the dignity of the national symbol with its power and vitality.
Best Silver Coin
To put it plainly: with the “Fascination of the Universe” series and its successor, “Beauty of the Universe”, the Austrian Coin Office has created a design in which sophisticated minting techniques and the finest colour application are perfectly combined with high scientific standards. That is why this series is destined for victory. So far, the emissions “The Milky Way”, ‘The Black Hole’, ‘Neutron Star’, ‘Supernova’ and now ‘Einstein Ring’. Two of these even secured the overall victory at COTY. ‘Einstein Ring’ thus continues a winning streak.
Best Crown Coin
In 2024, China had presented the finest circulation coin. Now it has been awarded the prize for the best taler-sized coin, thereby also securing the overall victory.
Best Circulating Coin
Hungary is not one of the regulars at the COTY, but has established an excellent starting position after regularly taking home the COTY’s short-lived People’s Choice Award. The emission honouring the Hungarian Academy of Sciences impresses with its combination of classical and modernist coin design.
Best Bi-Metallic Coin
Is there any series that dominates the COTY more than the Silver-Niobium bimetallic coins from the Austrian Mint? One might rather ask: in which years has Austria not won this category? The fantastic design of the Austrian niobium coins is practically guaranteed to win.
Most Artistic Coin
Nun, über Kunst lässt sich wunderbar streiten. Die Jury hat entschieden.
Most Innovative Coin
Das Problem mit der innovativsten Münze sind die zweidimensionalen Fotos, die der Jury für ihre Entscheidung zur Verfügung stehen. Wie innovativ ein Design tatsächlich ist, lässt sich aber oft nur mit mehreren Bildern, vielleicht sogar mit einem Film zeigen, manchmal muss man die Innovation auch mit einem längeren Text erklären – alles Dinge, die bei der Auswahl keinen Platz finden.
Frankreich gewinnt diese Kategorie übrigens häufiger, so auch 2025 und 2024.
Most Inspirational Coin
As was the case in recent years, Ukraine won the ‘Most Inspirational’ category.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! Are these really the most fine coins of the year 2025? Do write to us.
ukampmann@muenzenwoche.de
Text and images: Ursula Kampmann
