Samlehuset Group

COINING IT

When major events and memorable occasions unfold around Europe, the Samlerhuset Group is the first to focus on memorialising the day, person or event with commemorative medals, coins an d /or other collectables. As one of Europe’s largest coin companies with a presence in 15 different markets, its importance in the numismatics market cannot be overstated.

Social Responsibility Manager Zdenka Mulon took Richard Hagan behind the scenes of the intricate business of minting Europe’s milestones.

IN EUROPE

Headquartered in The Netherlands, Samlerhuset Group was established in 1994 by partners Ole Bjørn Fausa and Reidar Nilsen. From humble beginnings, the company now has a presence in 15 different countries and markets across Europe, operated by a total of 750 staff.

Equally impressive is the fact that Samlerhuset Group also owns the famous Mint of Norway, where a large part of its production takes place. The Mint of Norway, situated in the former mining town of Kongsberg, is the country’s second-longest running manufacturing entity, having been

founded as far back as 1686. In 2003, the Central Bank of Norway sold a 50% stake in the mint to the Samlerhuset Group which later bought the remaining shares in the Mint in 2015.

The Mint of Norway still produces all of the legal tender coinage for Norway as well as several other countries, but a substantial part of its work today is in striking the medals, commemorative coins and other collectables commissioned by Samlerhuset Group.

Better in the metal

As one of Europe’s largest coin companies, Samlerhuset Group specialises in the direct marketing of coins, commemorative medals and related collectables to all of its markets across the continent. The company prides itself on superior products made to the

highest quality standards and delivered with its trademark first-class service to customers.

Outside of its own manufacturing capacity at the Mint of Norway, Samlerhuset Group also boasts an extensive network of some of the top mints around Europe who together ensure that Samlerhuset Group can accommodate almost any product specification required by a customer.

Big-ticket projects

Samlerhuset Group’s project portfolio is the best example of the company’s manufacturing versatility. Past projects span some truly epic events, celebrations and milestones including minting the Nobel Peace Prize medals, and selling various medals and collectables for the Olympic Games.

Notable recent projects include Samlerhuset’s substantial donations and participation in significant projects alongside non-profit companies such as Waterloo 200, The Imperial War Museum and the In Flanders Fields Museum.

While these projects are impressive, Ms Mulon took us behind the scenes of the even more impressive amount of background work required to bring them to life, owing to the surprising number of moving parts involved.

“From the conceptualisation of the product until its final stage of readiness for shipping to the customer, takes about six months,” Ms Mulon explained. “The process includes dozens of partners, established processes, highly experienced employees, top-notch creative designers, effective production and logistics and of course, great sales and marketing.

“I don’t think many people outside of the industry realise how demanding the process is.”

Paying it forward

A critical part of Samlerhuset Group’s mission is social and environmental responsibility, not only in its local markets but also globally. To this end, Ms Mulon highlighted two social responsibility programmes that the company is involved with.

Reidar Nilsen, Samlerhuset Group co-founder

SAMLERHUSET GROUP I PROFILE

The first is Samlerhuset Group’s partnership with the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM). ARM is a non-profit organisation that supports artisanal and small-scale mining operations and organisations, to become Fairmined certified mines.

Within this partnership, Samlerhuset Group sponsors the Minas y Cuevas mine in Honduras in its journey to becoming certified.

“Certification will make a huge impact on the miners’ lives, financially, socially and in terms of the environmental conditions in which they live and work,” Ms Mulon noted.

The other programme is Samlerhuset Group’s partnership with Swedish NPO Humanium Metal, whose mission is the

promotion of peace by ending the violence caused by illegal firearms.

“There are a lot of illegal guns worldwide causing death and misery every day,” Ms Mulon lamented. “Even once they’re confiscated, it can be difficult to prevent them from falling back into criminal hands. Humanium Metal assists local governments to solve that issue by melting down illegal guns.”

The metal recovered from the melted guns is turned into a special powder from which a new metal, called Humanium, is produced.

“We’re now in the process of using this metal to create coins instead of our traditional raw materials such as Gold, Copper and Silver,” Ms Mulon revealed. “Production of coins using Humanium is difficult as it’s a new metal, but it’s an initiative that we’re proud to be involved with.”

In closing, Ms Mulon reiterated the company’s competitive qualities. “There are no other companies in Europe or worldwide with a story like ours and products like ours. We have a reach that nobody else has.

“I’m proud to work for Samlerhuset Group; I enjoy the fact that it’s a responsible company that thinks about its responsibilities and the future, and which likes to make a big impact on the key issues within its industry. And of course, I love the product: It’s small, intricate artwork on small pieces of metal!” n

Ole Bjørn Fausa, Samlerhuset Group co-founder