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 ewas released into circulation.)
Ahmet Şimşek won the coin design competition in 1998, which was held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. His winning design was used for the silver coin titled ‘Republic and Youth.’
The composition features a girl and a boy, holding an olive branch and a torch, positioned alongside Atatürk’s profile, facing right. Surrounding the central design, decorations made of ears of wheat form part of a gearwheel that spans three-quarters of the circumference.
A set of seven coins was released in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Republic of Türkiye.
A golden coin called “Republic 75” was a collective design. Effigy of Atatürk is the work of Pietro Giampaoli from the 50’ies.
Other coins were made in silver:
“Republic and Lousanne”, “Republic 2000” (by Suat Özyönüm);
“Republic and Children”, “Republic and Women” (by Nesrin Ekşi);
He attended another contest and won second place with his Millennium coin.
Two doves cuddling around a globe, forming a tulip outline.
(Other two winners of the Millenium Competition are Ayşe Şirin and Tan Mavitan)
Ahmet Şimşek also attended the coin design competition of 2006. The contest theme was Newroz (Spring Equinox) Celebrations.
Although he was announced to share the second place with Buket Esener, his design was not used on the coin (One side of the coin bears the design of Buket Esener and the other side bears the design of Betül Uğurlu).
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).
FAO 1984 World Fisheries gold commemorative
FAO 1984 World Fisheries silver commemorative
Mintmark of the Turkish State Mint
Mint mark of the Royal Mint – the Tower of London
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 $)
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)
Born in 1951, the artist enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in 1974. With encouragement from his professors Şadi Çalık and Hüseyin Gezer, he started working for the State Mint in 1977. However, he shortly quit to focus on his studies.
One year after graduating from the academy in 1980, he was invited by the State Mint and so he joined the staff. In 1986 he was sent to Italian Mint in Rome on a five-month programme to study contemporary coin making techniques.
He retired from the Turkish State Mint in 2006.
Exhibitions he took part in:
1976 – Participated in the Open-Air Painting Exhibition at the Archaeological Museums.
1978 – Took part in the YDGSA Higher Sculpture Department Student Group Exhibition.
1978 – Participated in the State Painting and Sculpture Exhibition.
1979 – Opened his first solo sculpture exhibition at Nur Art Gallery.
1979 – Participated in the State Painting and Sculpture Exhibition.
1979 – Took part in the 2nd Art Festival events.
1981 – Participated in the 3rd Istanbul Art Festival “New Trends” Exhibition.
1981 – Joined the contemporary mixed sculpture exhibition at Maçka Art Gallery.
1981 – Took part in the mixed painting and sculpture exhibition at Moda Fine Arts Gallery.
1984 – Participated in the 12th International Istanbul Festival “Contemporary Artists 5th Istanbul Exhibition.”
1993 – Held a Unique Medallion and Sculpture Exhibition at Sadberk Hanım Museum.
1994 – Opened a sculpture exhibition at Foks Art Gallery.
2001 – Participated in the exhibition “Meeting with Sculpture on the 78th Anniversary of the Republic” at Akbank Art Center.
Awards he received:
1979 – Received First Prize in the Osman Hamdi Sculpture Competition.
1987 – Received two honorable mentions in the State Medals and Orders competition organized by the Prime Ministry.
Coins he designed and engraved during his tenure at the State Mint:
FAO design used on 1977 2,5, 5 and 50 lira pieces. the tag line reads; “Herkese Ekmek ve Konut” (Food and housing for everyone)
1981 IYDP International Year of Disabled People gold commemorative coin
1977 FAO Food and Shelter for Everyone acmonital 2½ and 5 Lira and a silver commemorative coin with face value of 50 Lira
1981 International Year of Disabled People gold 30.000 Lira
1983 60th anniversary of the Turkish Republic obverse bearing effigy of Atatürk
1983 FAO World Food Day
1983 FAO 16th October World Food Day, silver 1.500 Lira
1983 60th anniversary of the Turkish Republic commemorative coin (the obverse bearing the effigy of Atatürk) *1)
1984 1 Lira circulation coin; the obverse bearing the effigy of Atatürk
1984 5 Lira circulation coin; the obverse bearing the effigy of Atatürk
1984 10 Lira circulation coin; the obverse bearing the effigy of Atatürk
1984 50 Lira circulation coin; the obverse bearing the effigy of Atatürk
1984 100 Lira circulation coin; the obverse bearing the effigy of Atatürk
1984 United Nations, Decade for Women silver and gold commemoratives
1984 50th anniversary of Turkish Women obtaining the right to vote and the right to run for office
1984 20 Lira circulation coin; the obverse bearing the effigy of Atatürk
1985 25 Lira circulation coin; the obverse bearing the effigy of Atatürk
1985 FAO 9th World Forestry Conference Mexico
1985 World Youth Year
1989 Teachers Day 24th of November
1986 International Year of Peace, gold and silver commemoratives
1987 International Year of Shelter for the Homeless
1988 50 Lira circulation coin; the obverse bearing the effigy of Atatürk
1988 100 Lira commemorative coin; Mexico strike the obverse bearing the effigy of Atatürk (*2)
1989 500 Lira circulation coin; the obverse bearing the effigy of Atatürk
2002 Türkiye’nin Çiçekleri – Antalya Süseni (Iris Pamphylica)
2004 Binyılın Türk’leri – Nazım Hikmet Ran
2005 T.B.M.M. Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi 85. Milli Egemenlik Yılı
2005 tedavül paralarından 1, 5 ve 10 Kuruşların tura yüzünde yer alan Atatürk portreleri
2009 tedavül paralarının tamamında (1, 5, 10, 25 ve 50 Kuruş ile 1 Lira) tura yüzünde yer alan, ilk olarak 1984 yılı 1, 5, 10, 20 ve 50 Liralıklarda yer alan Mustafa Kemal Atatürk portresi.
İlk kez 1984 yılı FAO Balıkçılık altın parasının yazı yüzünde kullanılan ve 1984’ten itibaren para setlerinde görülen Darphane logosu kendisinin eseridir (*27, Sf. 73, 74 & 75).
İstanbul Darphanesi Logosu
Darphane’deki diğer eserleri:
TBMM – Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi madalyon ön
TBMM – Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi madalyon arka
1989 NATO’nun 40. Yılı ön
1989 NATO’nun 40. Yılı arka
1990 – Herşey İnsan İçindir – Çevre Emanettir madalyon
1990 – İnsanı Sev Çevreni Koru madalyon
1998 Habitat 2 Kent Zirvesi madalyon
İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi şehrin altın anahtarı ön & arka
İBB altın anahtarı sunum kutusu
İBB altın anahtarı kutusu
Other Works at the Mint
Grand National Assembly of Turkey medallion
40th anniversary of NATO commemorative medallion with the slogan “Peace in Freedom”
1990 medallion with the slogans “Love People, Protect the Environment” and “Everything is for People – The Environment is a Trust”
1998 Habitat II Istanbul Urban Summit medallion
Gold-plated key to the city and box, produced for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
[2]Workers of the Mint went on strike between June 23 and October 19, 1988. Some of the circulation coins were struck at the Mexican Mint. 10 million 100 Lira coins dated 1988 and approximately 66 million 500 Lira coins dated 1989 were minted in Mexico using molds produced in Istanbul. In addition to the circulation coins produced, one thousand silver 100 and 500 Lira commemorative coins were minted. These commemorative coins, which were kept in the Turkish Mint for a while, were offered for sale to registered collectors in 1995 (*27, p 100).
* See all the artists who contributed to the designs of Turkish Republican coins and banknotes here.
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