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Norway has revealed its new 20-krone coin – and it was designed in a garden studio in Caerphilly County Borough.

Sixty-year-old Michael Guilfoyle, who lives in Bedwas, won a competition to design the coin for the Nordic nation in the summer of 2023.

The piece – which is worth about £1.50 – went into circulation on February 1.

It is to commemorate 750 years since the introduction of the third nationwide legal code to be introduced in Europe, which was proclaimed by Norway’s King Magnus VI in 1274.

Mike told Caerphilly Observer how the opportunity came about and said: “A Norwegian friend of mine notified me that they were looking for designers. 

“There was very strong competition. Luckily enough my design was chosen by their committee,” adding that he was up against two sculptors and two architectural firms from Norway.

Mike and his wife were invited to Oslo earlier this month, where the new coin was revealed at the Museum of Cultural History in the city.

It features an image to reflect the ‘landslov’, or Law of the Land, which includes the seal of King Magnus ‘the Lawmender’, who is on horseback, carrying a shield and the scales of justice.

The competition’s jury said the piece was “beautifully modelled” and linked the Middle Ages and the present while symbolising the “legislation’s significance for the country”. 

Mike has been commissioned or won competitions to design a currency for “countries all over the world” –  including Australia, the Netherlands and – by his estimates – around 12 coins for the Republic of Ireland. 

He thoroughly researches his designs and said: “Every subject is different. I like to discover not only information about the subject, but I like to use that research and information that I gather to try to find a new way of representing that subject.”

Originally from Ystrad Mynach, Mike has been working as a sole trader in coin and metal for 25 years. He now runs Guilfoyle Design from his home studio in Bedwas. 

Mike embarked upon his career straight out of school and said: “I had no real idea what I wanted to do but my art teacher, Mr Goddard, saw an advert in the South Wales Echo for the student engraver at the Royal Mint, so I applied for that and got the position.”

Along with coins, he also designs literature, logos and coin packaging. 

Mike added: “There’s a lot of pride in it. Every day is interesting.”