Results of the Public Anonymous Competition for the Art Design of a Silver Collector Coin in Nominal Value of 10 Euro Commemorating the 900th Anniversary of the Zobor Documents

First prize and realization
Mgr. art. Peter Valach

Third prize
Mgr. art. Patrik Kovačovský

In February 2010, the Národná banka Slovenska announced a public anonymous competition for the art design of a commemorative silver coin in nominal value of 10 euro commemorating the 900^th anniversary of the Zobor documents, the oldest preserved documentary originals in Slovakia. Twelve artists submitted a total of seventeen works to the competition. The NBS Governor’s Commission for the Assessment of Art Designs of Slovak Euro Coins assesed them in April 2010. The expert advisor in the art design selection for this coin was Dr.h.c. prof. PhDr. Richard Marsina, DrSc., an expert in the medieval history of Slovakia and archival science.

Approved for realization was the design of Mgr. art. Peter Valach, which was awarded the first prize in the competition. The commission primarily positively evaluated the fact that the design fulfilled requirements from the artistic and historical viewpoint, and the specified theme was rendered as the most appropriate of all submitted works. On the obverse, the commission appreciated the figural composition of two Benedictine monks with apt modelling of faces and figures set amongst Romanesque architecture. The commission stated that the writing adapted from the first Zobor document, as well as the seal of the Church of St. Hypolite of Zobor chapter on the obverse, are legible and sculpturally very well executed. The commission also highlighted the clarity and balance of the composition.

Second prize was not awarded in the competition. Third prize received Mgr. art. Patrik Kovačovský. The commission was intrigued by the interesting modelling of the monk figure in combination with smooth and raster surfaces, and the appropriate use of lettering and characters within the defined composition frame of the obverse. On the reverse, the negative form of lettering with central placement of seal stimulated positive remarks. The commission expressed two critical comments from the historical viewpoint: architectural element – the portrayed twin arch was used only in a later period, and the depicted monk has a Franciscan tonsure (cut hair on the scalp) although the documents were written by Benedictine monks.