Artists whose designs were used on Turkish currency

We compiled the list of artists who created the designs of the coins and banknotes of Republic of Türkiye.

Most of the coins were produced by artists employed by the Mint, and most of the banknotes by the engravers of the Central Bank’s Banknote Print, yet in the early periods of the Republic, foreign experts were consulted and the works of artists participating in occasional competitions have also taken place on commemorative and circulation coins.

Artists whose designs were used on Turkish currency:

(dates in brackets indicate the year which the artist’s first design was released into circulation.)

Artists who were awarded degrees in competitions, but whose designs were not used on coins:

Artists whose artwork is used on currency indirectly:

*designers of some of the coins and most of the banknotes are missing from the list. It will be updated as new information surfaces.

cover photo: 2018 annual report of the Turkish State Mint

Engin Akarslan

Born in 1956, the artist worked at the State Mint between 1969 and 1997. Engin Akarslan is also the creator of the obverse design with the inscription “TÜRKİYE CUMHURİYETİ” (Turkish Republic, Republic of Türkiye) and the wreath comprised of an ear of wheat and olive branch. This obverse pattern was used on many commemorative coins struck after 1979 (*1).

He also designed following commemoratives

    • Obverse of various commemorative coins firstly 1979 International Year of the Child
    • 1985 40th anniversary of FAO
    • 1992 30th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Türkiye
    • 1994 Centenary of the International Olympic Committee

[1] (*27, foreword describing the “front face” of a commemorative).