Reijo Paavilainen’s interpretation “Guardian of the Text” won the design competition.

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.

Source: www.rahapaja.fi