Tag: design

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

Vedat Ömer Ar (1907 ~ 2001)

Vedat Ömer Ar was tone of the first place winners of the contest organized for 100 Kuruş 1934.

His model for the reverse of the coin won first place. For the obverse, the effigy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk made by Mesrur İzzet Bey was selected by the jury. Both were awarded 1000 Lira each. However, the second place models were also sent to Ankara for consideration and eventually the models of the Artist Ali Cemal Bey were selected for the coins.

Vedat Ömer Ar, studied graphics in the Fine Arts Academy (today named Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts) and was sent to France for further education after his graduation. Upon his return, he tought at the Academy as a contemporary of Prof. Emin Barın and Namık Bayık who have also designed cons for the State Mint.

Ayaktakiler, soldan: Edip Hakkı, Emin Barın, Namık Bayık, Gevher Bozkurt, Günseli Başar, Sabih Gözen, Bilge Hanım, Hayati Gökay, Aktan Bey, Ramiz Bey.Oturanlar, soldan; Vedat Ar, Necmettin Hoca, Kenan Tenizan, Zeki Faik İzer, Tahirzade...
Standing, left-to-right: Edip Hakkı, Emin Barın, Namık Bayık, Gevher Bozkurt, Günseli Başar, Sabih Gözen, Bilge Hanım, Hayati Gökay, Aktan Bey, Ramiz Bey. Seated; left-to-right; Vedat Ar, Necmettin Hoca, Kenan Tenizan, Zeki Faik İzer, Tahirzade… (Seramik Dünyası Magazine, March & April issue of 1996. p19 the article about Vedat Ar by Hande Kura

He studied ceramics making in France and after his return, he became a professor at the Academy. Later he worked in stage decoration, animation, advertisement and documentary production. Died on 12 March 2001.

Vedat Ömer monogram, made of his initials and forms an owl

Some of his works are exhibited at the Painting and Sculpture Museum of Istanbul

İstanbul Resim Heykel Müzesindeki “Balık” adlı eseri