WASHINGTON - The United States Mint announced today that two coins, the 2002 Ohio commemorative quarter-dollar coin and the 2002 United States Military Academy (USMA) Bicentennial Commemorative Coin, won 2004 “Coin of the Year” (COTY) awards.

The Ohio commemorative quarter-dollar coin won the competition in the Most Historically Significant category, which recognizes coins that best reflect landmark achievements in areas such as science, technology and social development that occurred more that 50 years ago. The USMA Bicentennial Commemorative Coin won in the Best Crown category, which recognizes dollar-sized silver coins approximately 20 to 30 grams in weight and 33 to 42 millimeters in diameter.

“We are very proud that our coins have received this great honor,” said United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore, after the awards were announced at the American Numismatic Association Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The COTY award, sponsored by Krause Publications’ World Coin News, recognizes mints around the world for excellence in craftsmanship, practicality, and general coin appeal. COTY, the brainchild of Russell Rulau of Krause Publications, was launched in 1983 and has been presented annually since 1984. An international panel of approximately 30 professional numismatists and experts in the field gathers each year to judge coin submissions from the various mints. Entries span a two-year production period, allowing wider participation of countries that do not issue coins regularly.

The United States Mint has received COTY awards in the past for its 1982 George Washington Commemorative Silver Half-Dollar, which was cited as Coin of the Year, Most Popular, and Most Historically Significant; the 1986 Statue of Liberty $5 Gold Coin, cited as Coin of the Year and Most Popular; 2001 American Buffalo Coin Commemorative Coin, named as Most Popular; and the 2000 Leif Ericson Commemorative Coin, honored as Coin of the Year and Most Historically Significant Coin.

Click here to view a high resolution image of the Ohio commemorative quarter-dollar and the USMA Bicentennial Commemorative Coin.