Isa Avni Kumuk, was born in 1934 in Samsun to a family of Caucasian descent. He was involved with his family business of jevellry-making at the early age of six. He was quite interested and competent in maths during elementary school and and was even nicknamed Pisagor (Pythagoras). after his graduation from high school in 1953, he started his own workshop at the Grand Bazaar as a jevellry-maker and engraver. He was admitted to Istanbul Technical University as the 12th applicant.
He worked for the Turkish State Mint between 1964 and 1976 first as a technical personnel, later as the head of engraving workshop and technical consultant. During his service, he was appointed to examine the Spoonmaker’s Diamond to authenticate and measure its dimensions.
He designed many circulation and commemorative coins after 1970. His technique was compared to Giampaoli‘s.
50 Kurus piece released in 1971 was his handiwork. After visiting an exhibition of traditional Anatolian clothes, administrators of the mint asked him to come up with a portrait of a woman in traditional Anatolian head dress. The owner of said exhibition Sabiha Tansug was photographed in the Ankara Headpiece, but in order not to portrait any significant person, Avni Kumuk cut out her face and completed the portrait with an imaginary average Turkish woman.
Around 1976, the head of the State mint – also a prominent poet Cemal Süreya – was instructed to decommission old machinery of the mint. Avni Kumuk convinced him to keep the machinery for display.
After his work at the Mint had ended, in 1982, he started his own company called International Goldart İstanbul, and produced over 700 medals, badges, pins and emblems ordered by several private companies and Turkish Numismatics Association. He received several awards by Turkish and international, private and public institutions.
Commemorative and circulation coins he designed and produced:
1970:
- 25 Lira silver coin commemorating the 50th anniversary of the TBMM – Grand National Assembly of Turkey
- Acmonital 2½ Lira with the obverse bearing Ataturk on a tractor; minted part of the FAO programme.
1971:
- 50 Lira silver coin commemorating 900 years of Battle of Manzikert
- Bronze 10 Kr, Ataturk on a tractor; part of FAO programme,
- Acmonital 50 Kr circulation piece with a woman wearing Anatolian headdrress.
1972:
- silver 50 Lira commemorating 50th anniversary of the Victory of August the 30th
- golden medals commemorating victory of Battle of Dumlupınar
1973:
- 50 and 100 Lira silver and 500 Lira gold coins commemorating 50th anniversary of the Republic
1974:
- 5 Lira circulation piece bearing Ataturk’s statue in Samsun
1975:
- Aluminium 5 Kurus part of FAO programme
1976:
- Aluminium 5 and 10 Kr and acmonital 5 Lira of the FAO series
1978:
- FAO acmonital 50 Kurus, 1 and 2½ Lira
- FAO acmonital 5 Lira and silver 150 Lira
- FAO gold 500 Lira,
- FAO gold 1.000 Lira
1979:
- FAO bronze and aluminium 1 Kuruş
- FAO acmonital 50 Kuruş and 1 Lira,
- FAO acmonital 2½ and 5, also silver 150 Lira
- FAO gold 500 Lira,
- FAO gold 1.000 Lira,
1980:
- FAO bronze 10, acmonital 50 Kurus and 1 Lira,
- FAO gold 500 Lira
Some of the medals he produced:
for the Turkish Armed Forces:
- First and Second degree Honour Medals
- First and Second degree Pride Medals
- Medal of Distinguished Service
- First and Second degree War Medals
- Emblem of the Turkish Army (Turkish Land Forces)
- Turkish Army commemorative medallion
for various establishments:
- commemorative medallion for the 500th anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople / İstanbul
- commemorative medallion for the inauguration of 15 July Martyrs Bridge (named Bosphorus Bridge when first opened)
- commemorative medallion for the inauguration of Haliç (Golden Horn) Bridge
- medallion commemorating Saudi King Faisal’s visit to Türkiye
- medallion commemorating Islamic Conference in Istanbul
Avni Kumuk was also interested in painting, he was not only a skillful artist, but also a competent engineer. After the intervention to Cyprus by Turkey in 1974, he contributed to complicated parts the defence industry needed and that had to be domestically produced.
He was a member of the industrial advisory committee of ITU Mechanical Engineering Faculty. He assisted many public and private companies with their intricate designs of parts and dyes.
Father of 2 sons, Avni Kumuk worked until his last minute with the principle of giving back to the society.
Click here for a page dedicated to Avni Kumuk’s works.
*We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the family of the artist, for their invaluable contribution to this article.
