What Makes a Coin Innovative? A Look at the 2026 COTY Nominees

From France came a 10-euro silver coin shaped like a Lancôme lipstick. Samoa released a coin with a sliding door that opens to reveal the lost city of Atlantis. These are among the nominees for the Most Innovative Coin category in the 2026 Coin of the Year (COTY) awards, as reported by the publication Numismatic News.

So, what makes a coin innovative?

The official criteria for the award define the category as judging “innovative concepts in coinage.” Specifically, the evaluation considers “pioneering alloys, atypical materials, unusual shapes, unique visual themes, and other innovations.” Special consideration is given to “technological advancements that push forward the ideas and mechanics of minting.”

Pushing the Limits of Shape: Cubes, Paper Airplanes, and a 995mm Silver Strip

Several of this year's nominees deviate significantly from the traditional circular form.

Burundi’s “Greek Mythology – 3D Cube” is, as its name suggests, a cubic silver coin depicting gods such as Zeus on each of its faces. Niue’s “Paper Plane – Folded Dreams” has the three-dimensional shape of a child's paper airplane, complete with a slightly bent tip.

Lithuania’s “Metro Cattolico” is even more unique. It was minted as a long, thin silver strip measuring 995mm in length, symbolizing a universal unit of measurement.

Canada’s “The Calling of an Engineer” is modeled after the iron ring given to engineers, featuring a design with multifaceted edges and a raised rim.

Gimmicks and Surface Technology: From Sliding Doors to the Nano Shine Effect

Innovation is not limited to shape. Gimmicks integrated into the coin and new surface-finishing technologies are also key evaluation points.

Samoa’s “Atlantis – Sliding Door” features a narrative mechanism: sliding a door reveals a hidden, gold-plated city of Atlantis underneath.

Djibouti’s “Travels of Marco Polo – Puzzle Coin” has five gold-plated puzzle pieces, depicting scenes from his journey, set around a portrait of Marco Polo.

Italy’s “Voyages of the Amerigo Vespucci” is a two-coin set that allows a 2-euro coin to be fitted inside a 10-euro coin.

Innovations in surface finishing are also notable. The Cook Islands’ “Butterfly” uses a technique called the Nano Shine effect, drawing fine lines on an obsidian-like finish to make the butterfly appear to glow on its own. A coin from Australia titled “Extragalactic” depicts a spiral galaxy with patina coloring and a hand-set natural diamond.

These nominees demonstrate the technical skill and creativity of their respective national mints. With the Samoan coin, the city hidden beneath cannot be seen until the door is opened.