Tag: relief

Tekin Gülbasar

Tekin Gülbasar was born in 1978 in Zile, Tokat. He graduated Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Faculkty of Fine Arts, Sculpture Programme in 2006 and started working at the State Mint the same year.

Coins he has designed:

  • 2016 15 Temmuz Şehitleri ve Gazileri Anısına
  • 2016 Büyük Türk Devletleri Serisi
    • Büyük Hun İmparatorluğu
    • Batı Hun İmparatorluğu
    • Avrupa Hun İmparatorluğu
    • Ak Hun İmparatorluğu
    • Göktürk İmparatorluğu
    • Avar İmparatorluğu
    • Hazar İmparatorluğu
    • Uygur Devleti
    • Karahanlılar
    • Gazneliler
    • Büyük Selçuklu İmparatorluğu
    • Harzemşahlılar
    • Altınordu Devleti
    • Büyük Timur İmparatorluğu
    • Babür İmparatorluğu
    • Osmanlı İmparatorluğu
  • 2016 İyonlar (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Serisi No: 6)
  • 2016 Uğur Böceği (Türkiye’de görülen hayvan türleri serisi)
  • 2016 Türk Keleri (Türkiye’de görülen hayvan türleri serisi)
  • 2016 Dünya İnsani Zirvesi İstanbul
  • 2016 Nasreddin Hoca “Göle Maya Çalmak” (Masal Kahramanları Serisi No: 2)
  • 2016 Beçin Kalesi – Ahmed Gazi Medresesi (Antik Kentler Serisi No: 10)
  • 2016 İlk Türk Amirali Çaka Bey (Gemiler ve Kaşifler Serisi No: 7)
  • 2017 Assos – Athena Tapınağı (Antik Kentler Serisi No: 11)
  • 2017 Nasreddin Hoca “Ye Kürküm Ye” (Masal Kahramanları Serisi No: 3)
  • 2017 Cam Kelebeği (Türkiye’de görülen hayvan türleri serisi)
  • 2017 Roma İmparatorluğu Aizanoi Zeus Tapınağı, Çavdarhisar İlk Borsa (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Serisi No: 7)
  • 2017 Umur Bey (Gemiler ve Kaşifler Serisi No: 8)
  • 2017 Datça Deveboynu Feneri (Deniz Fenerleri Serisi No: 7)
  • 2017 Meddah (Geleneksel Türk Tiyatrosu)
  • 2017 Kavuklu & Pişekar (Geleneksel Türk Tiyatrosu)
  • 2017 Darphane 550. Yıl
  • 2019 Patara Meclis Binası ve Kent Kapısı (Antik Kentler Serisi No: 13)
  • 2019 Doğu Roma İmparatorluğu (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Serisi No: 9)
  • 2019 Azerbaycan Milli Meclisi’nin Kuruluşunun 100. Yılı
  • 2019 Anadolu’ya Özgü Kuşlar Serisi
    • Kaşıkçı (No: 2)
    • İbibik (No: 3)
    • Çöl Koşarı (No: 4)
    • Bayağı Uzunbacak (No: 5)
    • Baştankara (No: 6)
    • Ardıç (No: 8)
  • 2019 Bodrum Feneri (Deniz Fenerleri No: 9)
  • 2019 Göbeklitepe yılı
    • Gümüş ve Bronz
  • 2019 Kılıç Ali Paşa (Gemiler ve Kaşifler Serisi No: 10)
  • 2019 Azerbaycan Dışişleri Bakanlığının Kuruluşunun 100. Yılı
  • 2019 İmameddin Nesimi Doğumunun 650.Yılı
  • 2019 Nasreddin Hoca “Dünyanın ortası burasıdır” (Masal Kahramanları Serisi No: 5)
  • 2020 Osmanlı İmparatorluğu (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Serisi No: 10)
  • 2020 Karabağ Azerbaycandır 50 Manat
  • 2020 Karabağ Azerbaycandır 20 TL
  • 2020 Perge – Helenistik Kapı (Antik Kentler Serisi No: 14)
  • 2020 Yeşilay’ın kuruluşunun 100. yılı
    • Gümüş
    • Bronz
  • 2020 Gastronomi Şehri Afyonkarahisar
    • Altın kaplama
    • Gümüş
    • Bronz
  • 2020 Nasreddin Hoca “Fil Hikayesi” (Masal Kahramanları Serisi No: 6)
  • 2020 Osman Gazi 1258 ~ 1326 (Osmanlı Padişahları No: 1)
  • 2020 Orhan Gazi 1281 ~ 1362 (Osmanlı Padişahları No: 2)
  • 2023 Ayşe Hafsa Valide Sultan Vakfiyesi’nin 500. Yılı (Manisa Sultan Külliyesi Camii)
  • 2023 Deniz Harp Okulu 250. Yıl
  • 2023 Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi 750. Vuslat Yılı
  • 2023 Saltuklular (Anadolu Beylikleri Serisi No: 4)
  • 2024 Ak Hun Devleti (Büyük Türk Devletleri Serisi No:4)
  • 2024  Hungarian-Turkish Culture Year
  • 2024 Galatasaray’s 24th Championship in the Turkish Super League

[1]Obverse of these coins is the handiwork of Hakkı Baha Çavuşgil.

(We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the artist for his invaluable contributions to this page)

Michael Otto

Designer of various commemorative coins of several countries, as well as Euro coins.

Together with his father Herwig, Michael Otto produced models for the Turkish Mint part of the cooperation with the MDM firm.

  • 1999 Ships and Explorers Serie #4 “Fethiye” galleon 4.000.000 Lira silver,
  • 1999 Olympic Games of 2000, 3.000.000 Lira silver,
  • 1999 Lacerta Clarorum 4.000.000 Lira silver coin
  • 2000 Euro 2000 Football Cup commemorative

 

Cover photo: www.muenzgravur.de

Personal page: www.instagram.com/otto.gravuren

Sneschana Russewa-Hoyer

Designer of two silver coins of the 1999 yılı Euro Serie. Both of 4.000.000 TL nominal value; Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and the Bosphorus (Boğaziçi; which was also struck in gold in 2000 with a 50.000.000 TL face value)

Coins were released in accordance with the agreement between the Turkish State Mint and the German MDM firm.

Other coins of the 1999 Euro Serie:

  • Dolmabahce Palace, 3.000.000 TL, 1998
  • Galata Tower, 3.000.000 TL, 1998 Esin Özkul(*1)
  • Saint of Myra; Santa Claus, 1.500.000 TL, 1997 Hakkı Baha Çavuşgil
  • Living Legend Troy, 500.000 TL, 1999 David Cornell
  • Galata Tower (gold), 50.000.000 TL, 2001 Waldemar Wronski
  • Seafront Mansions of the Bosphorus, 10.000.000 TL, 2001 Waldemar Wronski
  • Saint of Myra; Santa Claus,(gold), 10.000.000 TL, 2000 Hakkı Baha Çavuşgil

[1] Golden coin of 2000, bearing the same design is listed as a handiwork of Waldemar Wronski.

The artist was born in Bulgaria in 1953 (in Cyrillic “Снежана Русева – Хойер”), went to East Berlin to study graphic design in the 70’ies and married Heinz Hoyer.

Federal Eagle of Germany designed by Snezhana & Heinz Hoyer (foto: ECB)

They won the design competition of 1997 for the German Euro coins. Their design of the Federal Eagle (Bundesadler) is used on the 1 and 2 Euro coins in circulation since 2002.

They work on designs of stamps, coins and medals.

https://www.muenzenundmedaillen.de/designer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneschana_Russewa-Hoyer

cover photo: Wikipedia

Stuart Devlin (1931~ 2018)

Stuart Devlin designed the FAO Commemoratives of 1983-84 World Fisheries Conference.

Said coşns were made in three types – all denominated at 500 Lira – in gold, silver and cupro-nickel.

Royal Mint lead a commemorative coin programme for the Conference being held in Rome, where twelve countries participated with coins.

The initial pieces were struck without any mint mark, however the pieces struck at the Royal Mint for sales outside Türkiye bear the logo with the Tower of London.  Later, the Turkish State Mint also introduced their own mint-mark designed by Suat Özyönüm(*28, p. 73~75).

Stuart Leslie Devlin, an Australian by birth (1931 Geelong – Victoria), attended the Gordon Institute of Technology, specialising in gold and silversmithing. Later studies gold and silversmithing at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London and also a Harkness Fellowship at Columbia University in New York.

In 1982 he was awarded the royal warrant as goldsmith and jeweller to the Queen. He designed the commemorative coins for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He also designed coins for around 30 different countries.

Stuart Devlin won the competition of 1964 for the design of the Australian coinage. The coins bear motifs of Australian native animals; such as a feather tail glider (1 c), a frilled lizard (2 c), an echidna (5c), a lyrebird (10 c), a platypus (20 c), Commonwealth Coat of Arms (50 c) and a mob of five kangaroos (1 $)

Australian Coinage by Stuart Devlin

Cover photo: https://www.ramint.gov.au/stuart-devlin-ao

https://benchpeg.com/news/stuart-devlin-ao-cmg-1931-2018

Hakkı Baha Çavuşgil (1924 ~ 2006)

Hakkı Baha Çavuşgil, started working for the Turkish State Mint in 1979 and created dozens of circulation and commemorative coins until his death.

He graduated from Fine Arts Academy and created many sculptures, focusing on abstract figures.

His brief cv from the State Mint Website:

He was born on 15th of May, 1924 in Harput, Elazig. completed his primary and middle education in Canakkale, his high school in the capital; Financial Trade School of Ankara.

Enrolled to Academy of Fine Arts (Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University today). Received lessons from Rudolf Belling and Zuhtu Muritoglu workshops, graduated sculpture programme in 1955. Also graduated Decoration and Ornamentation Arts Ceramics programme in 1957.

Studied in Italy under Italian Gov’t scholarship at Rome Istituto Centrale Del Restauro for five years.

Graduated Rome Medallion Arts School with honours (1962)

Staged dozens of exhibitions domestically and abroad, received several awards.

His creations while working for the State Mint:

  • 1981 Centennary of Ataturk’s birth; Half (½) and whole 1 Lira silver and gold coins (*1)
  • 1981 FAO World Food Day; 16th of October 20 Lira aluminium and 1.500 Lira silver coins
  • 1982 Hicretin 15. Yüzyılı
  • 1982 FAO 16 Ekim Dünya Besin Günü gümüş 1.500 Lira
  • 1982 Dünya İzciliğinin 75. Yılı
  • 1983 Anadolu Medeniyetleri Sergisi 500 Lira küpronikel ve 50.000 Lira altın
  • 1983 Cumhuriyet’in 60. Yılı (İnsan figürlerinin taşıdığı Ay Yıldız desenli yazı tarafı, *2)
  • 1984 Kış Olimpiyatları – Sarajevo, Bosna Hersek
  • 1984 Yaz Olimpiyatları – Los Angeles, ABD
  • 1985 Turgut Reis 500. doğum yılı gümüş 5.000 Lira ve altın 50.000 Lira
  • 1986 Dünya Futbol Şampiyonası – Meksika (kaktüs figürlü gümüş ve altın, ayrıca futbolcu figürlü gümüş, toplam 3 hatıra para)
  • 1986 Mehmet Akif Ersoy 50. Ölüm Yılı
  • 1987 Ormancılığımızın 130 Yılı, “Yeşili Yaşat, Ormanı Koru” sloganlı biri gümüş, biri altın iki hatıra para
  •  1988 Kış Olimpiyatları – Calgary, Kanada
  • 1988 Yaz Olimpiyatları – Seul, Güney Kore
  • 1988 Mavi Haliç, Büyük İstanbul Çevre Koruma Projesi, altın ve gümüş iki hatıra para
  • 1989 İstanbul Metrosu
  • 1989 Mimar Sinan 400. Anma Yılı (1.000 Liralık küpro-nikel, 20.000 Liralık gümüş ve 200.000 Liralık altın)
  • 1990 Çanakkale Zaferi 75. Yıl gümüş ve altın iki hatıra para
  • 1990 Parlamenter Demokraside 70. Yıl gümüş ve altın iki hatıra para
  • 1990 Dünya Futbol Şampiyonası – İtalya (Romus & Romülüs’ü emziren kurt figürlü ve top süren bir futbolcu desenli iki gümüş para)
  • 1991 Mozart 200. Ölüm Yılı – Saraydan Kız Kaçırma Operası – Topkapı Sarayı
  • 1992 500 Years of Peace and Harmony – Turkish Jews (Sefarad Yahudileri Göçü’nün 500. Yıldönümü, küpronikel, gümüş ve altın)
  • 1992 Cioacchino Rossini 200. Doğum Yılı
  • 1992 Muhsin Ertuğrul 100. Doğum Yılı
  • 1993 Türkiye Kızılay Derneği 125. Yıl (gümüş ve altın iki hatıra para)
  • 1993 Cumhuriyet’in 70. Yılı
  • 1993 Pyotr İliç Çaykovskiy 100. Ölüm Yılı
  • 1994 GAP – Güneydoğu Anadolu Projesi
  • 1995 25.000 Lira tedavül
  • 1995 25.000 Lira “Dünya Hoşgörü Yılı”
  • 1995 Piri Reis (Gemiler ve Kaşifler Serisi No: 1) (gümüş ve altın iki hatıra para)
  • 1995 FAO 50. Yıl
  • 1996 Yaz Olimpiyatları – Atlanta, ABD
  • 1996 Nasreddin Hoca – UNESCO Dünya Kahkaha Yılı (*3)
  • 1996 Gümrük Birliği – Customs Union
  • 1996 ECU
  • 1997 Piri Reis (Gemiler ve Kaşifler Serisi No: 2) (1995’teki desen ile aynı ancak daha ufak bir altın para)
  • 1997 Çin Seddi ve Toprak Asker Ordusu (İpek Yolu Serisi No: 1)
  • 1997 Mehmet Akif Ersoy 60. Ölüm Yılı
  • 1997 Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi – 1st World Air Games (Dünya Hava Oyunları,750.000 ve 1.500.000 Liralık iki gümüş *3)
  • 1997 Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa Kaptan-ı Derya (Gemiler ve Kaşifler Serisi No: 3)
  • 1997 Lidya Krallığı Kroisos
  • 1997 Myra’lı Aziz Noel Baba € EURO
  • 1998 Dünya Futbol Şampiyonası – Fransa
  • 1998 Cumhuriyet’in 75. Yılı – Cumhuriyet ve Devrimler (Çağdaş Giyim Kuşam, Şapka Devrimi)
  • 1998 Yaz Olimpiyatları 2000 – Halter
  • 1999 Dünyada İlk Para Lidya (altın para 1997 tarihlidir)
  • 1999 Uygur Bölgesi (İpek Yolu Serisi No: 2)
  • 1999 Osmanlı İmparatorluğu’nun Kuruluşunun 700. yılı – Osman Gazi
  • 2000 Bill Clinton’un Ziyareti (gümüş ve bimetal)
  • 2001 Darphane’nin Kuruluşu 1467 Madalyonu
  • 2001 Türkiye’nin Kuşları – Saz Horozu (Porphyrio Porphyrio)
  • 2001 Türkiye’nin Kuşları – Yeşil Arıkuşu (Merops Superciliosus)
  • 2002 Türkiye’nin Çiçekleri – Benekli Yılanyastığı (Arum Maculatum)
  • 2002 Türkiye’nin Çiçekleri – Safran (Crocus Sativus)
  • 2002 Türkiye’nin Çiçekleri – Domuztopalağı (Cyclamen Trochopteranthum)
  • 2002 Yunus Emre “Adımız miskindir bizim, Düşmanımız kindir bizim”
  • 2003 Olimpic Games 2000 – Güreş (altın para 2000 tarihlidir)
  • 2004 İsmet İnönü (Binyılın Türkleri Serisi)
  • 2004 Kanuni Sultan Süleyman (Binyılın Türkleri Serisi)
  • 2005 Çöl Varanı (Türkiye’nin Hayvanları)
  • 2008 İpek Yolu – Kırgızistan (1999 Uygur Bölgesi parasında kullanılan yazı yüzü, *4)
  • 2008 İpek Yolu – Özbekistan (1999 Uygur Bölgesi parasında kullanılan yazı yüzü, *4)
  • 2012 İpek Yolu – Türkmenistan (1999 Uygur Bölgesi parasında kullanılan yazı yüzü, *4)
  • 2013 İpek Yolu – İran (1999 Uygur Bölgesi parasında kullanılan yazı yüzü, *4)
  • 2014 İpek Yolu – Kayseri (1999 Uygur Bölgesi parasında kullanılan yazı yüzü, *4)

Medallions:

  • 1988 Türk Nümismatik Derneği “İsmail Galip Bey” Madalyonu
  • 1999 Türk Nümismatik Derneği “Cüneyt Ölçer” Madalyonu
  • 2001 Darphane’nin Kuruluşu 1467 Madalyonu

[1] Paraların deseni Etem Çalışkan‘a, rölyef ve kalıp uygulaması Hakkı Baha Çavuşgil’e aittir (*27, Sf. 51).

[2] Paranın Atatürk portreli tura tarafı Suat Özyönüm eseridir (*27, Sf. 68).

[3] Paraların deseni Turhan Selçuk‘a, rölyef ve kalıp uygulaması Hakkı Baha Çavuşgil’e aittir (*27, Sf. 153 & 165).

[4] Paraların tura yüzü Tekin Gülbasar‘a aittir.

ilave okuma: https://www.idildergisi.com/makale/pdf/1548617739.pdf

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).

Pietro Giampaoli (1898 ~ 1998)

Portrait of Atatürk by P. Giampaoli

Giampaoli was as a consultant to the Turkish State Mint and was the designer of the Ataturk effigy on the coins starting with the 1 Lira of 1957.

Same portrait was also used on the 10 Lira of 1960 silver commmemorative 10 Lira pieces.also on the 25.000.000 coin minted in 1998 as part of the 75th anniversary of the republic(*27, Page. 183).

He worked at the Italian Mint between 1936  and 1963. designed many Italian coins as well as medals and coins for Vatican, San Marino and Malta. He consulted Germany, France, Spain, Israel and Tunisia.

Rather recent auction pieces indicate that he also worked on 25 Kurus coins bearing Ataturk’s portrait but eventually the figure of an Anatolian woman carrying an artillery shell was used for those coins. His signature in its Latinisized form (J. Pvlvs) can be seen below the portrait.

There are auto-portraits of Giampaoli on medals(*1) where his name is Latinified. The page describes his resoning for using thistle on his self medals as “In the language of flowers and plants, the thistle symbolizes solitude and isolation and this meaning is due to the tendency of this plant to grow in inaccessible places. An ability to make one’s way through difficulties – yet “not without effort”, indeed.”

His brother Celestino Giampaoli also was affiliated with the Turkish State Mint (*2) during the period which acmonital (Acciaio Monetale Italiano / Italian monetary steel) was used for Turkish coins. It is a variant of stainless steel that is harder than silver or cupronickel hence requires specific machinery for processing.

[1] https://www.cronacanumismatica.com/un-refuso-due-medaglie-e-limpresa-del-maestro-giampaoli

[2] https://www.dizionariobiograficodeifriulani.it/giampaoli-pietro-celestino-e-vittorio

Percy Metcalfe (1895 ~ 1970)

Percy Metcalfe
Percy Metcalfe, CVO, RDI,
Photo by Bassano Ltd  © National Portrait Gallery, London

His name is first mentioned in Turkish numismatics literature as “Sculptor of the London Mint; Mr. Medkaley“ in the 1955 Catalogue by Turkish numismatist and actor Behzad Butak.

Behzat Butak quotes “Mister Medkaley” from a proceedings report of GNAT (Grand National Assembly of Türkiye) from 1944.

(While the forms of the new Republican gold coins were being discussed, Finance Minister Fuat Ağralı elaborates that Metcalfe was invited for the effigy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and that he also made an effigy of İsmet İnönü. Upon criticism on why a foreigner was tasked to create the president’s effigy, Metcalfe’s skillset as a coin engraver is emphasized) His name is misspelled most probably due to a transliteration error.

Royal Mint’s involvement with the Turkish coins, dates back to 1933. In September of that year, Deputy Master and Controller of the Royal Mint, Sir Robert Johnson visited Istanbul and the capital Ankara. He had learned that the Turkish Gov’t was planning of minting new coins with the new alphabet, hence he offered Royal Mint’s services to the Turkish Government. But was not successful in securing an order for minting the new coins. However, the relations between the two mints remained active and Percy Metcalfe visited Turkey in 1935 (*Royal Mint Annual Report of 1934, Page 17).

He was meant to produce an effigy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, however he was requested to work on designs for the whole set of six coins.

Turkish circulation coins that bear Metcalfe’s designs:

  • 50 Kuruş 1935 ~1937
  • 25 Kuruş 1935 ~1946 (The 25 Kr pieces minted between 1944 to 1946 retained the same reverse as Metcalfe designed, however their obverse was changed to a crescent and star)
  • 10 Kuruş 1935 ~1940
  • 5 Kuruş 1935 ~1943
  • 1 Kuruş 1935 ~1944 (after 1938, these coins were converted into an undulated form)
  • 1 Lira 1937 ~ 1939
  • 1 Lira 1940 ~ 1941

Metcalfe’s family donated some of his work to the British Museum. Among those, there are the early drafts of the 1935 coins’ designs:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/AUTH232341

1935 10, 5 ve 1 Kuruş Tura yüzü deseni.© The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746593 © The Trustees of the British Museum
100 Kuruş 1935 taslak Deseni© The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746587 © The Trustees of the British Museum
100 Kuruş 1935 taslak© The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746592 © The Trustees of the British Museum
1 Lira 1935 Taslak deseni© The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746588 © The Trustees of the British Museum
50 Kuruş 1935 taslak deseni© The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746581 © The Trustees of the British Museum
25 Kuruş 1935 taslak deseni© The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746589 © The Trustees of the British Museum
5 Kuruş 1935 desen taslağı, © The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746590 © The Trustees of the British Museum

The newspapers of the period, indicate that several coin designs were considered at the time. 50 Kr piece was initially a variant of the 1934 100 Kr piece by Ali Cemal Bey. However, eventually Metcalfe’s designs were used; probably for consistency within the set.

 

RMAC papers of the Royal Mint have a record of a 1 Lira model depicting a stylized art-deco wolf from 1935. Around that time, the denomination of 100 Kurus was being changed as 1 Lira.

The models of the said design are kept by the Royal Mint Museum archives. Records show that it was criticised in-house (RMAC Papers dated 31/10/1935) and was minted only in a couple of samples for the evaluation.

Grey Wolf was indeed a Turkish symbol and was used on some of the first banknotes. It was even considered to be a main figure as an emblem for the Turkish Republic. However, Atatürk rejected that idea, hence such coins were never minted.

Royal Mint Annual Report of 1938 also mentions (*page 16) that Metcalfe won a contest for the new gold coins’ design but Sir Johnson states that he believes after Ataturk’s death those coins would probably not be minted.

Yet, Royal Mint Museum holds models of the effigy of İsmet İnönü (second president of the Turkish Republic), and the gold and silver coins minted after 1940 bear that effigy by Metcalfe.

 

Form comparison between 1938 second type 1 Kr and Egyptian 5 Milliemmes

1 Kurus pieces minted between 1938 and 1944, were in an undulated form so that they wouldn’t be confused with the silver 25 Kr pieces of the same diameter. Said coins resemble the coins of Iraq and Egypt, which were made by Metcalfe. This could be interpreted as the cooperation between the British and the Turkish Mints was still active at the time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percy Metcalfe, served in the Royal Mint from 1924 to 1948. Effigies of King George VI and many other nations’ rulers were his handywork. among his most famous were the Barnyard Set made for Free Irish State.

As a new dominion, Free Irish State considered having its own currency. For this purpose, an international competition was held in 1926. among 66 submissions, Metcalfe’s designs were selected. The animals, which some are related to hunting and some to farming, were assigned face value based on their status; the horse being the noblest and the woodcock being the humblest.

At first there was significant criticism that a nation seeking independence from the English rule is now going forward with coins “designed by an Englishman, denominated in the English way, and made at the English mint“. However, as Nobel laureate Yeats puts it “the coins have been designed to please those who look longer at each coin than anybody else; artists and children”, hence they were universally admired.

 

Coin set of Free Irish State; woodcock (farthing), pig and piglets (halfpenny), hen and chicks (penny), hare (threepence), wolfhound (sixpence), bull (shilling), salmon (florin) and horse (half crown). Collectively known as the Barnyard Collection

During his time at the Royal Mint, with the reputation he gained from the Free Irish State coinage and the support from Sir Robert Johnson, Percy Metcalfe produced many models for various countries. Some of these are; Mihai the 1st of Romania, Boris the 3rd of Bulgaria, Faisal and Ghazi of Iraq, Fuad and Farouq of Egypt, Demeter and Poseidon portraits on the Greek coins of 1930.

 

Article main photo; Percy Metcalfe working on plaster model of Boris the 3rd of Bulgaria Photo: HenryMooreInstitute

*We would like to thank World of Coins forum users <k>, africancoins and forum admin Peter Kraneveld for providing the fundamental lead on Percy Metcalfe’s contributions to the Turkish coins and also David Mason, Public Engagement & Information Officer and other staff of the Royal Mint Museum who provided invaluable information on Metcalfe’s work within their archives.