Samlerhuset Norge

Samlerhuset Group is one of Europe’s biggest coin companies. It all started with three Norwegian collectors and a small office in Norway back in 1994. Samlerhuset is founded by Norwegians Ole Bjørn Fausa, Reidar Nilsen and Helge Hellebust. They were all collectors from an early age, and in their late 20s they made their hobby into a business. 

Samlerhuset was founded to create collectors joy through engagement and storytelling. By offering more than just the product, Samlerhuset began to offer collections with added material such as history cards, boxes and other relevant information. Experts on history and numismatics were hired to make collecting and collectibles more interesting. People embraced this – this was a sucsess, and today approx. 1/10 of the Norwegian population has bought one or more collectibles from Samlerhuset. 

Every coin tells an interesting story about society it was minted in. Samlerhuset wants to educate people about these stories with the help of several of our partners. In addition Samlerhuset annually “The Norwegian coin catalogue” with the help of experts.

As a story teller it is important for Samlerhuset to convey Norwegian WWII history. In 2002 Samlerhuset started a cooperation with Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum (The Norwegian Resistance Museum) – a partnership that is still in place today. Today the museum is helping Samlerhuset with the added material for the medal collection Alt for Norge 1940-45, history from the war and occupation of Norway during the WWII. 

For the occasion of the Royal Crown Prince wedding in 2001, Samlerhuset Norway distributed the bronze medal where the profit was donated to King Olav V’s Cancer Research Fund. 

In 2006 Samlerhuset bought a large lot of gold coins from the Norwegian gold transport and offered these to collectors. The gold coins were rescued out of Norway during the invasions of the Nazis under WWII in 1940. After several years in foreign banks and in investor safes, the coins became available for Norwegian collectors. 

Samlerhuset Norway was one of the organizers of the European exhibit tour of the world’s largest gold coin. The 100 kg, 99,999% pure gold coin from Canada was exhibited on Grand Hotel in Oslo in 2009 . 

In 2011 Samlerhuset introduced the medal collection Kongeriket Norge, a gold plated medal collection of Norway’s modern royal family. Nidaros Domkirkes Restaureringsarbeider – guardian of Norway’s regalia support Samlerhuset with their expertise - through counseling and quality of historical facts. A portion of the profit of this collection goes to Nidaros Domkirkes Restaureringsarbeider and their important task to preserve Norway’s most important monument, the Nidaros Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace. Over several years and through different medal collections with royal theme, Samlerhuset has proudly made contributions to the Crown Princess’s Humanitarian Fund. 

In June 2011 Samlerhuset sponsored the statue of war hero Max Manus. This was a great success and gained a lot of public attention. The statue was unveiled by war hero Gunnar Sønsteby in front of 400 people and national press. Amongst the guest were war veterans, the minister of defense Grete Faremo and Army Chief Harald Sunde. 

In April 2011 The Museum of Cultural History celebrated 200 years. On this occasion Samlerhuset donated a medal from 1685 to the museum. Samlerhuset paid 250.000 NOK for the medal that is now exhibited in Norway’s official coin and medal collection in the museum.  

Samlerhuset is the official distributor of several of the world’s largest mints, and has since 1994 cooperated with the IOC. Samlerhuset has sold and distributed all the official Olympic coin programs the last 17 years. Through the sales of these commemorative coins Samlerhuset has contributed to NIF, the Norwegian Confederation of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympics Committee. 

Samlerhuset Norway was the first established company of the now worldwide Samlerhuset Group, and aim to continue making collectors joy for years to come. 

Managing director: Svend Aavitsland 

Number of Employees:  53

Svend Aavitsland, managing director of Samlerhuset Norge AS.