贝尔法斯特雕塑家的阿波罗 11 号硬币荣获国际“年度硬币”荣誉

贝尔法斯特雕塑家加里·库珀纪念阿波罗 11 号登月 50 周年的硬币荣获 2021 年度硬币奖。他的设计以尼尔·阿姆斯特朗的足迹和巴兹·奥尔德林的头盔为特色，是第一枚采用弧形设计的美国硬币，并因其技术创新而赢得赞誉。该系列硬币的收益使与太空相关的组织受益，库珀对纪念这一历史性事件感到自豪，同时也倡导环境保护和未来的太空探索。

International Coin of the Year Honor Bestowed upon Belfast Sculptor's Apollo 11 Commemorative Coin

贝尔法斯特雕塑家的阿波罗 11 号纪念币荣获年度国际硬币荣誉

Belfast, Maine - March 6, 2023 - The United States Mint's commemorative coin commemorating the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing, designed by Belfast sculptor Gary Cooper, has emerged as the recipient of the prestigious 2021 Coin of the Year award.

缅因州贝尔法斯特 - 2023 年 3 月 6 日 - 美国造币厂为纪念历史性的阿波罗 11 号登月 50 周年而设计的纪念币，由贝尔法斯特雕塑家加里·库珀 (Gary Cooper) 设计，荣获著名的 2021 年度硬币奖。

Cooper, who had long harbored the ambition of designing a coin for the U.S. Mint, expressed his astonishment upon learning of the coin's triumph in the competition. In 2019, Mint officials selected his intricate sculptural design featuring astronaut Neil Armstrong's footprint in lunar dust for the coin's obverse side.

库珀长期以来一直怀揣着为美国造币厂设计硬币的雄心，当得知该硬币在比赛中获胜时，他表达了他的惊讶之情。 2019 年，造币厂官员选择了他复杂的雕塑设计，将宇航员尼尔·阿姆斯特朗在月球尘埃中的足迹作为硬币的正面。

"I find the award to be truly exceptional," Cooper exclaimed. "Perhaps it stems from the fact that I approached this endeavor with more than mere artistic intent. I felt a profound emotional connection to the subject matter. I vividly recall the day the astronauts landed on the moon. My father had gifted me a telescope, and I spent the evening searching the skies with neighborhood children for the command module orbiting the moon. It was an unforgettable experience that left an enduring impression on my memory."

“我发现这个奖项确实非常出色，”库珀感叹道。 “也许这源于这样一个事实：我不仅仅是出于艺术意图来完成这项工作。我对这个主题产生了深刻的情感联系。我清楚地记得宇航员登陆月球的那一天。我父亲送给我一台望远镜，我花了整个晚上和邻居的孩子一起在天空中寻找绕月运行的指挥舱，这是一次难忘的经历，给我留下了深刻的印象。”

This commemorative coin stands out as the first in the United States to embrace a curved design. Its reverse side, featuring a convex surface, showcases a detailed recreation of a renowned photograph captured on July 20, 1969. The image captures a close-up view of astronaut Buzz Aldrin's helmet, reflecting the figures of Armstrong, the American flag, and the lunar module "Eagle." The reverse design was conceived by one of the Mint's talented sculptor-engravers.

这枚纪念币脱颖而出，成为美国第一枚采用弧形设计的纪念币。它的背面具有凸面，详细再现了 1969 年 7 月 20 日拍摄的一张著名照片。该图像捕捉了宇航员巴兹·奥尔德林头盔的特写视图，反映了阿姆斯特朗、美国国旗和美国国旗的形象。登月舱“鹰”。背面设计是由造币厂一位才华横溢的雕刻师构思的。

The U.S. Mint employed the designs in the production of a $5 gold coin, a $1 silver coin of standard size, a half dollar clad coin, and a substantial 5-ounce silver proof coin valued at $1.

美国造币厂采用这些设计生产了 5 美元金币、标准尺寸的 1 美元银币、半美元包层硬币和价值 1 美元的 5 盎司精制银币。

Organized by World Coin News and celebrating its 38th year, the Coin of the Year program serves to recognize exceptional coin design and innovation worldwide. The 2021 program celebrated coins minted in 2019 across ten competitive categories. The 5-ounce Apollo silver coin garnered acclaim, securing awards for both Best Contemporary Event and Best Silver Coin, culminating in its designation as the overall Coin of the Year.

年度硬币计划由世界硬币新闻组织，庆祝其成立 38 周年，旨在表彰全球杰出的硬币设计和创新。 2021 年计划庆祝 2019 年铸造的十个竞争类别的硬币。 5 盎司阿波罗银币赢得了广泛赞誉，荣获最佳当代活动奖和最佳银币奖，最终被评为年度最佳硬币。

"Our team takes immense pride in contributing to the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of NASA's Apollo 11 mission, which marked the first successful manned lunar landing," stated a U.S. Mint official. "The silver coin represents a significant achievement in the Mint's technical capabilities."

美国造币厂官员表示：“我们的团队非常自豪能够为纪念 NASA 阿波罗 11 号任务 50 周年做出贡献，该任务标志着首次成功的载人登月。” “银币代表了造币厂技术能力的重大成就。”

Cooper explained that a portion of the surcharge generated by the commemorative coin series was channeled towards the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, and other organizations dedicated to supporting the field of astronautics.

库珀解释说，纪念币系列产生的附加费的一部分被用于宇航员纪念基金会、宇航员奖学金基金会和其他致力于支持航天领域的组织。

Despite being the coin's designer, Cooper was obliged to purchase his own coins, a fact he found amusing. "That's how the government operates," he remarked.

尽管库珀是硬币的设计者，但他还是不得不购买自己的硬币，他觉得这一点很有趣。 “这就是政府的运作方式，”他说。

Cooper remains uncertain whether he will receive an invitation to attend the awards ceremony scheduled for later this month. Traditionally held in Berlin, Germany, the event congregates the artist, engravers, and Mint representatives. However, this year's virtual format may necessitate restrictions on the number of attendees.

库珀仍不确定他是否会收到参加本月晚些时候举行的颁奖典礼的邀请。该活动传统上在德国柏林举行，艺术家、雕刻师和造币厂代表齐聚一堂。然而，今年的虚拟形式可能需要限制与会者人数。

"It has been incredibly rewarding to witness the coin garner international recognition," Cooper expressed. "I am deeply gratified that it serves as a testament to the extraordinary accomplishments of the space program and the historic moon landing."

库珀表示：“见证这枚硬币获得国际认可是非常有意义的。” “我非常高兴它证明了太空计划和历史性登月的非凡成就。”

"The space exploration endeavors of the 1960s exemplify the remarkable capabilities of our nation when it wholeheartedly embraces a goal," Cooper emphasized. "While I believe we have adequately invested in space programs for the time being, our focus should now shift towards preserving our planet. When the opportune moment arises, we can resume our ambitious explorations beyond Earth."

库珀强调说：“20 世纪 60 年代的太空探索活动体现了我们国家全心全意实现某个目标时所具有的非凡能力。” “虽然我相信我们暂时已经对太空计划进行了充分投资，但我们现在的重点应该转向保护我们的星球。当适当的时机出现时，我们可以恢复我们雄心勃勃的地球以外的探索。”