Tag: Masino Bessi

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

Alfred Nefe (1923 ~ 2019)

Born in Kleinraming, Austria in 1923, the artist studied at the Iron & Steel Processing Technical School (Fachschule für Eisen- und Stahlbearbeitung) in Stern. He produced portraits on various banknotes for the Austrian Central Bank.

Alfred Nefe, who produced portraits for the Swedish Central Bank in the early 1960s, also produced many stamps and became a name well-known to philatelists.

6 Emisyon 50 TL Atatürk portresi

His name, inscribed as “A.NEFE” can be seen on the portrait of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on the 6th Emission 50, 100 and 500 Lira banknotes  (*42, Sf. 127).

* Click here for other artists whose engravings are used in the design of Turkish currency.

 

see more: sellosyartistas.blogspot.com

Masino Bessi

Fiorenzo Masino Bessi is the graphic designer of the sixth emission 50, 100 and 500 Lira banknotes, whose Atatürk portrait engravings were made by Alfred Nefe (*1).

Masino Bessi’s most famous works are the Italian banknotes from the early 1960s, when he was commissioned by the Bank of Italy to redesign banknotes in need of renewal in a way that would honor Italian creativity.

Portraits of Verdi, Raphael and Michelangelo were initially proposed for the 1.000, 5.000 and 10.000 Lire banknotes. Later, Raphael was replaced by Christopher Columbus, and Leonardo da Vinci was chosen for the 10,000 Lire banknote as a pioneer of scientific research and modern technology.

Bessi also reworked the designs of the 5.000 and 10.000 Lire banknotes, previously designed by artist Lazzaro Lazzarini, to ensure a coherent design for the entire series (*2).

Sketches and examples of Italian banknotes.

He also designed the graphic banknotes of various countries such as Indonesia (1952 1.000 Rupees), Belgium (1961 series of 100, 500 and 1.000 Francs) and Israel (1968 10, 50 and 100 Pounds).

* Click for other artists who contributed to the design of Turkish coins.

 

[1] EkoTürk TV interview with Şükrü Ertürk (in Turkish).

[2] source: Bank of Italy, history of emissions.

[3] banknote images: (CBRT) Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye Virtual Museum