2018 €5 silver and €10 gold Fanny Blankers-Koen commemorative coins
- April 26, 2018
- by
- Pierre
Not long after the end of the Second World War, Fanny Blankers-Koen put the Netherlands on the world map when she won four gold medals at the 1948 Olympic Games in London. She triumphed at the 100 m, 200 m, 80 m hurdles and 4 x 100 m relay. By way of thanks, she was presented with a bicycle by the local authorities, ‘because she had done more than enough running’. As Blankers-Koen was already 30 years old and a mother of two during the 1948 Olympics, she earned the nickname ‘the flying housewife’. In addition to four Olympic medals, Blankers-Koen achieved 58 national titles, 5 European titles and 21 world records during her active career from 1935 to 1955. She competed in the sprint, hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot-put and pentathlon. Following her active career, Blankers-Koen served as Olympic team leader in 1960, 1964 and 1968. She died in Hoofddorp on 25 January 2004 at the age of 85.
Inspiration for the designers
The designers of this official commemorative coin are visual artists Suzan Drummen and Monique Wijbrands. They produced a twisting, dynamic line silhouette of King Willem-Alexander on the obverse. The dynamic style is a reference to the speed and strength of athlete Fanny Blankers-Koen, who is bounding across the coin’s reverse. This repetition lends the coin the quality of a celebratory flower or medal. The thin lines convey some of Blankers-Koen’s signature features: her long stride, loose arms and muscular body. This use of lines unifies the obverse and reverse of the coin. The time factor – a crucial aspect of her performance – is expressed by a circle of lines similar to the seconds on a clock face. The Fanny Blankers-Koen five-euro coin, the second commemorative coin issued in the series of Dutch sporting icons (following the Johan Cruijff five-euro coin), is a tangible reminder and a fitting tribute to our athletics legend of the 20th century.
The Royal Dutch Mint will strike the commemorative coin in special minting qualities. The coin will be available in various versions, including in Silver Proof in luxury packaging with background information, and in BU quality in a numbered coin card. A limited number of exclusive 10-Euro commemorative coins in Gold Proof will also be minted and a Silver Fanny Blankers-Koen Colour Set with the very first Dutch coin in Rose Gold will be issued. The Fanny Blankers-Koen 5 Euro Coin is also available in UNC quality.
Silver Fanny Blankers-Koen 5 Euro Coin Colour Set
A sportswoman such as Fanny Blankers-Koen of course deserves a special Silver Colour Set. That’s why the exclusive Silver Fanny Blankers-Koen Colour Set will be released in an edition of just 500. The set contains three Silver Proof coins, in which a very special finish has been applied that has never been applied to a Dutch commemorative coin, namely Rose gilding. In addition to this coin, one of the coins has coloured rings, while another coin has a gold-plated medal around Fanny Blankers-Koen’s neck.
Max. mintage: 500 sets
Metal: Silver 925/1000
Weight: 15.5 g
Diameter: 33 mm
Quality: Proof
Face value: 3 × 5 euros
The Fanny Blankers-Koen 5 Euro Coin Silver Proof
In luxury collector pack with additional background information.
Part of the National Collection®.
Max. mintage: 7,000 coins*
Metal: Silver 925/1000
Weight: 15.5 g
Diameter: 33 mm
Quality: Proof
Face value: 5 euros
* Maximum mintage includes the Silver Fanny Blank Koen Colour Set
BU quality Fanny Blankers-Koen 5 Euro Coin in coin card
Numbered issue, included in the official Coin Card Catalogue. Since 2016, the BU quality commemorative coins have been completely sold out at the Royal Dutch Mint. Part of the National Collection®.
Mintage: 17,500 coins
Metal: Silver-plated copper
Weight: 10.5 g
Diameter: 29 mm
Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated
Face value: 5 euros
Exclusive: Limited athletics-themed medallions 5 oz
The Royal Dutch Mint will be striking a number of limited and very exclusive themed medallions in honor of athletics. The luxury 5 oz medal. The Silver medallion is made with glass enamel, has a diameter of no less than 60 millimeters and is handcrafted by the Silversmiths of the Royal Dutch Mint. The maximum mintage is 100.
Mintage: 100 coins
Metal: Silver 999/1000
Weight: 5 Troy Ounces (155.5 g)
Diameter: 60 mm
Special feature: made with glass enamel
Design of the Fanny Blankers-Koen 5 Euro Coin:
The Fanny Blankers-Koen 5 Euro Coin is a coin exemplifying speed. The design is dynamic and refers to Fanny Blankers-Koen’s momentum and power. Her very fast times are reflected in a circle of second indicators. Even King Willem-Alexander’s rotating line silhouette on the front shows movement and speed.
The Fanny Blankers-Koen 10 Euro Coin 2018 Gold Proof
Supplied in luxury wooden box
Numbered Certificate of Authenticity
Max. mintage: 1,000 coins
Metal: Gold 900/1000
Weight: 6.72 g
Diameter: 22.5 mm
Quality: Proof
Statue of Fanny BLANKERS in ROTTERDAM
Sources: KNM and NUMISMAG©
