Skiing holds a special significance for most Norwegians. Skiing and the Norwegian winter have deep roots in Norwegian culture, and Morgedal in Telemark is known as the cradle of ski sports. The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships was held at the Holmenkollen arena in Oslo 23 February - 6 March 2011. The world ski championships had in a sense come home, to perhaps the most legendary ski jump in the world, with a history going back to 1892 and a reputation as one of the world’s best known sports arenas.

This silver coin has a nominal value of NOK 200 and was minted in an issue limited to 40 000 coins. The coin, which is proof quality and legal tender, was put into circulation on 8 January 2011.

Design and technical specifications

The coin was struck at Det Norske Myntverket (Mint of Norway) with the following specifications:

• Diameter: 32 mm
• Weight: 16.85 gr
• Alloy: 925/1000 Ag (sterling silver)
• Edge: Plain

The coin’s reverse (tails side) was designed by Ina Viktoria Kristiansen at Uniform Strategisk Design. The coin’s surface is divided into two sections. The lower section is slightly recessed and features slanted lines representing ski tracks. The upper section features a frieze displaying skiing athletes, with the inscription: SKI-VM OSLO 2011. Below the figure of a female ski jumper is the designer’s signature, IVK.

The coin's obverse (heads side) was designed by Ingrid Austlid Rise, designer at Det Norske Myntverket AS (Mint of Norway), and features a portrait of H.M. King Harald V facing right. Around the portrait is the inscription: HARALD V NORGES KONGE. At the lower left edge of the portrait is the artist’s signature, IAR. Below the portrait: the year 2011 with Det Norske Myntverkets (Mint of Norway’s) mintmark, the crossed pick and hammer, in the centre.