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Results of the public competition for the design of a €10 silver collector coin commemorating the 1150th anniversary of the recognition of the Slavonic liturgical language

First prize and the design selected for the coin
Roman Lugár

First prize and the design selected for the coin First prize and the design selected for the coin

Second prize
Andrea Ličková and Karol Ličko

Second prize Increased second prize

Third prize
Mária Poldaufová

Third prize Third prize

In August 2016 Národná banka Slovenska (NBS) announced a public competition for the design of a €10 silver collector coin commemorating the 1150th anniversary of the recognition of the Slavonic liturgical language. A total of nine designs by eight designers were entered in the competition. In November 2016 the designs were evaluated anonymously by the Committee for the Assessment of Commemorative and Collector Coin Designs. Assisting the Committee in its task were three external experts: Ján Steinhübel from the Institute of History of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Peter Mulík from the national heritage organisation Matica Slovenská, and Professor Ján Lukačka from the Faculty of Arts of Comenius University.

A design by Roman Lugár was awarded first prize and, on the Committee’s recommendation, it was approved by the NBS Bank Board as the design for the coin. The Committee praised the design for its artistry and for the outstanding compositional harmony between the two sides. The relief element on each side is framed within a circle, thus creating a visually unified composition. The obverse design is based on an archaeological find – a plaque from Bojná in western Slovakia – which symbolises the beginnings of Christianity in what is now Slovakia. The reverse shows the crucified Christ and, symbolically below the arms of the cross, Saints Cyril and Methodius, “the apostles of the Slavs”, in proper iconographic style. The expert advisers were also impressed with the depiction of a Greek cross on the obverse, in reference to Byzantium, and a Latin cross on the reverse, symbolising Rome. The Slavonic liturgical language is alluded to on both coin sides with examples of Glagolitic script.

Second prize was awarded for a design jointly produced by Andrea Ličková and Karol Ličko, who the expert advisers said had excelled in capturing the assigned theme. The design is based on a mural at St Clement’s Basilica in Rome which shows Pope Adrian II approving the liturgical use of the Slavonic language. On the coin, the scene is divided into two parts. The first, centrally placed on the obverse, shows the Pope giving approval to the Slavonic liturgy. To the right is the outline of a double cross and examples of Glagolitic script. The second part, on the reverse, shows Saints Cyril and Methodius leading a procession in which a number of processional crosses and pilgrims’ staffs are visible. The saints are heading to Rome with the relics of St Clement, which are being carried on the right of the scene.

Third prize went to a design by Mária Poldaufová. At the centre of the obverse is the image of a crucifix found at an archaeological site in Mikulčice (Czech Republic). In the design, the crucifix is framed by a Roman arch, behind which is an outline that gives the effect of three arches receding into the background. The reverse features a double portrait of Saints Cyril and Methodius, set within the partial outline of a cross. Both sides include Glagolitic script, as a symbol of Slavonic liturgy.

Another design by Ms Poldaufová was recognised for its high quality with the award of an additional prize.