Tag: GNAT

Nesrin Ekşi – Schnepf

Born in 1975, the artist graduated Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts, Sculpture Programme in 1997.

During her career at the State Mint between 1997 and 2016, she created numerous coins and medals starting with the 5.000.000 Lira gold Dikilitas (the Obelisk of Theodosius) commemorative, which was the second piece of the Istanbul Cultural Heritage serie.

Reverse of the 50 Kr piece in circulation today; depicting the Bosphorus Bridge, is also her handiwork.

Coins she designed and sculpted:

  • 1998 Istanbul Cultural Assets #2 – Dikilitas – Obelisk of Theodosius
  • 1998 75th anniversary of the Turkish Republic Serie
    • Republic and Women
    • Republic and Children
  • 1999 Istanbul Cultural Assets #3 – Tophane Fountain (gold and silver; two coin types)
  • 1999 80th anniversary of Ataturk’s arrival at Samsun on 19th of May 1919
  • 1999 700th anniversary of the Ottoman Empire’s establishemnt / Conquest of Constantinople
  • 2000 First Turkish Pilot – Sabiha Gökçen
  • 2000 Cities of the Antiquity #1 – Ephesus Celsus
  • 2000 Türkiye’s candidacy to European Union membership
  • 2001 23th of April
  • 2001 Traditional Turkish Handcrafts #1 – Iznik Pottery
  • 2001 Turks of the Millenium – Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi
  • 2001 Birds of Türkiye Serie
  • 2002 Ataturk portrait for the circulation 250.000 Lira (*33, p. 33)
  • 2002 Flowers of Türkiye Serie
  • 2002 23th of April
  • 2002 Hagia Sophia Mosque
  • 2002 Istanbul Cultural Assets #4 Hagia Sophia Mosque
  • 2002 Olympic Games – Skiing
  • 2002 Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi
  • 2003 Zeugma
  • 2003 First Turkish European Champion Athlete, Süreyya Ayhan
  • 2003 First Turkish Woman Lawyer, Süreyya Ağaoğlu
  • 2003 550th anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople – Çinili Köşk
  • 2004 Turks of the Millenium – Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror
  • 2005 Ataturk portrait for the 25 Yeni Kurus for circulation (*33, p. 37)
  • 2005 23rd Universiade Games Izmir
  • 2005 Nemrud (bearing the 2003 date)
  • 2005 Animals of Türkiye Serie
    • Anatolian Leopard
    • Kangal Shepard Dog
    • Grizzly Bear
    • Anatolian Wild Sheep
    • Ankara Goat
    • Tailed Dormouse
    • Jerboa
    • Ankara Cat
  • 2006 800th anniversary of Gevher Nesibe Hospital Complex
  • 2006 Solar Eclipse
  • 2006 70th anniversary of Mehmet Akif Ersoy‘s death
  • 2006 Calligrapher Hamid Aytaç
  • 2007 Safranbolu Houses
  • 2007 Kayseri Kültepe – First bronze age – IDOL
  • 2008 Seljuki zodiac representations
    • Aries – Ram
    • Taurus – Bull
    • Gemini – Twins
    • Cancer – Crab
    • Leo – Lion
    • Virgo – Maiden
    • Libra – Scales
    • Scorpio – Scorpion
    • Sagittarius – Archer
    • Capricorn – Goat
    • Aquarius – Water Bearer
    • Pisces – Fish
  • 2008 Traditional Turkish Handcrafts – Miniature
  • 2008 Centenary of Kabataş High School
  • 2008 Çatalhöyük
  • 2008 Yahya Kemal Beyatlı
  • 2008 800th anniversary of the birth of Nasreddin Hoca
  • 2009 Reverse of the circulation coin 50 Kurus bearing the Bosphorus Bridge (*33, p. 44)
  • 2009 Barack Obama’s visit to Türkiye
  • 2009 90th anniversary of Ataturk’s arrival at Samsun on 19th of May 1919
  • 2009 Imperial Eagle & Bearded Vulture 1 TL
  • 2009 World Bank Group Meeting in Istanbul
  • 2009 150th anniversary of Faculty of Political Science, Ankara University
  • 2009 1430th anniversary of Hijrah
  • 2010 90th anniversary of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye
  • 2010 FIBA World Basketball Championship
  • 2010 1400th anniversary of revelation of Qur’an
  • 2010 Ahırkapı Lighthouse
  • 2010 Centenary of Osman Hamdi – Istanbul Archeological Museum
  • 2011 European Youth Olimpics – Trabzon
    • Silver
    • Bronze
  • 2011 5th Universiade Winter Games – Erzurum
    • Skiing
    • Hockey
  • 2011 650th anniversary of Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling
  • 2011 Centenary of Yildiz Technical University
  • 2011 Centenary of the Turkish Airlines
  • 2011 Hejaz Railway – Medina Station
  • 2014 450th anniversary of Matrakcı Nasuh (*1)
  • 2014 First actress, Afife Jale

Medallions she created:

  • 2008 Seljuki medallion
  • 2009 Grand Bazaar Nuruosmaniye Gate medallion bearing the logo of the Turkish Numismatics Association and the Coat of Arms of the Ottoman Empire
  • 2010 European Capital of Culture; Istanbul

[1] Sculptor / artist of some of the commemoratives released by the State Mint, were not announced on the certificates or the newsletters. Designers of such coins are listed only to the extent that we could identify their designer. The list will be updated with new information.

Adrian Arthur Senger (1926 ~ 2016)

He is the graphic designer of the 20,000 Lira banknotes from the seventh emission group, which depict the Central Bank of Turkey Headquarters on the reverse, and the 50,000 Lira banknote, which features the Turkish Grand National Assembly composition (*1).
These two banknotes are the last banknotes whose designs were created by a foreign artist. The original designs for the banknotes were created in Türkiye by watercolor artist and graphic designer Adrian Arthur Senger, while the engravings, films, and plates were produced in Switzerland, at De La Rue Giori.

 

Senger studied at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste München (Munich Academy of Fine Arts). From 1959 to 1971, he worked as a graphic artist at the Giori firm in Milan.

From 1960 to 1962, he studied banknote and document design at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera (Brera Academy of Fine Arts). From 1979 to 1987, he worked as a graphic designer and art consultant at De La Rue Giori in Lausanne, Switzerland. He also contributed to the design of the Deutsche Mark banknotes (*2).

[1] TCMB LİRA Bülteni, Ocak 2009 Sayı: 49, “1927’den 2009’a Cumhuriyet Banknotları“, Hüseyin Şaşmaz (*51, s. 12).

[2] Adrian Arthur Senger – Wikipedia

Etem Çalışkan

Etem Caliskan is the artist who created the designs of the silver and gold coins commemorating the Centenary of Ataturk’s birth. (relief and models were made by the State Mint sculptor Hakkı Baha Cavusgil).

The artist studied at the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts, as a sudent of Prof. Emin Barın (who designed the circulation coins of 1947) and also  Prof. Namık Bayık who designed some of the 1982 commemoratives for World Football Cup.

His brief bio on his personal webpage:

“Publicist, artist, painter, calligrapher.

Born in 1928 in Tarsus – Göçük. Studied in Mersin during his elementary and middle school. Enrolled Academy of Fine Arts, Poster Department for higher education.

Studied pattern under Prof. Sabri Berkel, typography under Prof. Emin Barın, poster design and graphics under Prof. Namık Bayık.

Assisted Prof Emin Barin during construction of Anitkabir (Ataturk’s Mosoleum) as they were tasked with inscribing significant panels and walls.

Worked for various newspapers such as Zafer, Öncü, Dünya, Aksam, Milliyet, Hürriyet,  starting at Sabah in 1954 as an illustrator and calligrapher. Designed numerous book covers, posters; most notably the ones for the centenary of Atatürk’s birth.”

 

Cover photo: https://yurthaberleri.net/haber/etem-caliskandan-ataturk-portreleri-sergisi-haberi-1368.html

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

Suat Özyönüm

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:

  • 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 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
  • 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
  • 1989 500 Lira commemorative coin; Mexico strike
  • 1989 Teachers Day 24th of November
  • 1990 1.000 Lira circulation coin; both faces
  • 1990 1.000 Lira circulating commemorative “Love Our Environment”
  • 1991 2.500 Lira circulation coin; both faces
  • 1991 Yunus Emre Year of Love
  • 1991 Ahmet Adnan Saygun commemorative
  • 1992 5.000 Lira circulation coin; both faces
  • 1992 Winter Olympics – Albertville, France
  • 1992 Summer Olympic Games – Barcelona, Spain
  • 1994 10.000 Lira circulation coin; both faces
  • 1994 World Football Championship two commemoratives with face value of 50.000 Lira
  • 1995 Protected Nature #1 – Bald Ibis
  • 1995 T.B.M.M. Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi 75. Yılı
  • 1995 Polis Teşkilatının 150. Yılı
  • 1995 Korunan Doğa #2 – Caretta Caretta
  • 1996 50.000 Lira tedavül parasının ön ve arka yüzleri
  • 1996 Habitat II Kent Zirvesi
  • 1996 Korunan Doğa #3 – Akdeniz Foku
  • 1996 Hulusi Behçet
  • 1996 Korunan Doğa #4 – Kardelen
  • 1997 İstanbul Kültür Varlıkları #1 – Kız Kulesi
  • 1998 Hasan Ali Yücel
  • 1998 Lozan Barış Antlaşması’nın 75. Yılı
  • 1998 Cumhuriyet’in 75. Yılı Setinden:
    • Cumhuriyet ve Lozan
    • Cumhuriyet 2000
  • 1998 2 EURO, 500.000 Lira
  • 1998 10 EURO 2.500.000 Lira
  • 1999 100.000 Lira tedavül parasının ön ve arka yüzleri
  • 1999 Tam Güneş Tutulması temalı iki tip hatıra para
  • 1999 Osmanlı İmparatorluğu’nun Kuruluşunun 700. yılı
    • Osmanlı Arması
    • İlk Osmanlı Parası
    • Osmanlı Minyatür Sanatı
  • 1999 FAO XXI 21. Yüzyıl Gıda Güvenliği (XXI Century Food Security)
  • 2000 Geleneksel Türk Tiyatrosu #1 – Hacivat ve Karagöz
  • 2000 Birleşmiş Milletler Binyıl Zirvesi
  • 2001 Binyılın Türkleri – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Madalyonu
  • 2001 Cahit Arf
  • 2001 Türkiye’nin Kuşları – Kelaynak (Geronticus Eremita)
  • 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:

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

 

[1] The reverse was the handiwork of Hakkı Baha Çavuşgil (*27, p 68).

[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.

İsa Avni Kumuk (1934 ~ 2017)

Isa Avni Kumuk, was born in 1934 in Samsun to a family of Caucasian descent. He was involved with his family business of jevellry-making at the early age of six. He was quite interested and competent in maths during elementary school and and was even nicknamed Pisagor (Pythagoras). after his graduation from high school in 1953, he started his own workshop at the Grand Bazaar as a jevellry-maker and engraver. He was admitted to Istanbul Technical University as the 12th applicant.

He worked for the Turkish State Mint between 1964 and 1976  first as a technical personnel, later as the head of engraving workshop and technical consultant. During his service, he was appointed to examine the Spoonmaker’s Diamond to authenticate and measure its dimensions.

He designed many circulation and commemorative coins after 1970. His technique was compared to Giampaoli‘s.

50 Kurus piece released in 1971 was his handiwork. After visiting an exhibition of traditional Anatolian clothes, administrators of the mint asked him to come up with a portrait of a woman in traditional Anatolian head dress. The owner of said exhibition Sabiha Tansug was photographed in the Ankara Headpiece, but in order not to portrait any significant person, Avni Kumuk cut out her face and completed the portrait with an imaginary average Turkish woman.

 

Around 1976, the head of the State mint – also a prominent poet Cemal Süreya –  was instructed to decommission old machinery of the mint. Avni Kumuk convinced him to keep the machinery for display.

After his work at the Mint had ended, in 1982, he started his own company called International Goldart İstanbul, and produced over 700 medals, badges, pins and emblems ordered by several private companies and Turkish Numismatics Association. He received several awards by Turkish and international, private and public institutions.

Commemorative and circulation coins he designed and produced:

1970:

  • 25 Lira silver coin commemorating the 50th anniversary of the TBMM – Grand National Assembly of Turkey
  • Acmonital 2½ Lira with the obverse bearing Ataturk on a tractor; minted part of the FAO programme.

1971:

  • 50 Lira silver coin commemorating 900 years of  Battle of Manzikert
  • Bronze 10 Kr, Ataturk on a tractor; part of FAO programme,
  • Acmonital 50 Kr circulation piece with a woman wearing Anatolian headdrress.

1972:

  • silver 50 Lira commemorating 50th anniversary of the Victory of August the 30th
  • golden medals commemorating victory of Battle of Dumlupınar

1973:

  • 50 and 100 Lira silver and 500 Lira gold coins commemorating 50th anniversary of the Republic

1974:

  • 5 Lira circulation piece bearing Ataturk’s statue in Samsun

1975:

  • Aluminium 5 Kurus part of FAO programme

1976:

  • Aluminium 5 and 10 Kr and acmonital 5 Lira of the FAO series

1978:

  • FAO acmonital 50 Kurus, 1 and 2½ Lira
  • FAO acmonital 5 Lira and silver 150 Lira
  • FAO gold 500 Lira,
  • FAO gold 1.000 Lira

1979:

  • FAO  bronze and aluminium 1 Kuruş
  • FAO acmonital 50 Kuruş and 1 Lira,
  • FAO acmonital 2½ and 5, also silver 150 Lira
  • FAO gold 500 Lira,
  • FAO gold 1.000 Lira,

1980:

  • FAO bronze 10, acmonital 50 Kurus and 1 Lira,
  • FAO gold 500 Lira

Some of the medals he produced:

for the Turkish Armed Forces:

  • First and Second degree Honour Medals
  • First and Second degree Pride Medals
  • Medal of Distinguished Service
  • First and Second degree War Medals
  • Emblem of the Turkish Army (Turkish Land Forces)
  • Turkish Army commemorative medallion

for various establishments:

  • commemorative medallion for the 500th anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople / İstanbul
  • commemorative medallion for the inauguration of 15 July Martyrs Bridge (named Bosphorus Bridge when first opened)
  • commemorative medallion for the inauguration of Haliç (Golden Horn) Bridge
  • medallion commemorating Saudi King Faisal’s visit to Türkiye
  • medallion commemorating Islamic Conference in Istanbul

Avni Kumuk was also interested in painting, he was not only a skillful artist, but also a competent engineer. After the intervention to Cyprus by Turkey in 1974, he contributed to complicated parts the defence industry needed and that had to be domestically produced.

He was a member of the industrial advisory committee of ITU Mechanical Engineering Faculty. He assisted many public and private companies with their intricate designs of parts and dyes.

Father of 2 sons, Avni Kumuk worked until his last minute with the principle of giving back to the society.

 

Click here for a page dedicated to Avni Kumuk’s works.

*We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the family of the artist, for their invaluable contribution to this article.

Ali Sami Boyar (1880 ~1967)

Ali Sami Boyar is the designer of the first emission banknotes released in 1927 (*5 Sf.6).

He studied arts during middle school and later at the Naval Academy. He graduated the Naval Academy in 1901 and while working for the Navy, enrolled to Fine Arts School which he graduated in 1908.

In 1925, he won the contest for the first stamps of the Republic. Later in his career, while he was managing the Museum of Endowments (today Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum), he was appointed to produce the designs for the first banknotes of the republic.

He was sent to London to oversee the printing process along with the State Mint engraver İsmail Haşim and some other officials. The inscriptions on the banknotes were made by Calligrapher Ahmet in different font styles, so that it would be easier for the public to recognize different denominations. *1. The portrait on the 1000, 500 and 100 Lira banknotes was based on Atatürk’s photo taken at the Phebus Photo Studio by Bogos Tarkulyan(*2).

The series consisting of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1.000 Lira denominations was printed in London Thomas de la Rue Printhouse.

 

The symbolism of the banknotes included Grey Wolf, Crescent and star, the new parliament in Ankara. The texts were still in the Turkish Arabic syntax and in traditional and partly kufic fonts.

Sources:

[1]Story of The Printing of The First Banknotes of the Turkish Republic According to The Daily Cumhuriyet, Melek Öksüz, Tarih Dergisi – Turkish Journal of History, 81 (2023/3): 63-120

[2] Belki Beni Tanıyamayacaksın: Lesser known photos and memoirs of Atatürk from Ömer Koç Collection

[3] Koleksiyon.org; article by Koray Tekay (“from an article from the book “75 Yılda Para’nın Serüveni” (adventures of our money in the last 75 years))

Some detailed biographies of the airtist (Turkish):

Ahmet Mesrur Durum (1873 ~ 1952)

Designer of the last coins of the Ottoman Empire and also the first coin series of the Turkish Republic minted between 1924 – 1928.

Also known as Mesrur İzzet Bey, he has been serving the Istanbul Mint since 1905 and is also the designer of the Turkish Medal of Independence.

He studied sculpture at the Fine Arts School (later called “Istanbul Fine Arts Academy, today named Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University).

He has worked in several fields, including sculpture, painting, philately, and numismatics, and has designed a significant amount of medals for various establishments.

The Republican Era coins he has designed are:

  • 100 Para 1924 ~1928
  • 5 Kuruş 1924 ~1928
  • 10 Kuruş 1924 ~1928
  • 25 Kuruş (nikel) 1925 ~1928
  • 25 Kuruş (1/4 Altın Lira, Meskuk) 1926 ~1929
  • 25 Kuruş (1/4 Altın Lira, Ziynet) 1927 ~1928
  • 50 Kuruş (1/2 Altın Lira, Meskuk) 1926 ~1929
  • 50 Kuruş (1/2 Altın Lira, Ziynet) 1927 ~1928
  • 1 Lira (Ankara Gold Bullion) 1926 ~1929
  • 1 Lira (bullion Gold, Monnaies de Luxe) 1927 ~1928
  • 2,5 Lira (Ankara Gold Bullion) 1926 ~1929
  • 2,5 Lira (bullion Gold, Monnaies de Luxe) 1927 ~1928
  • 5 Lira (Ankara Gold Bullion) 1925 ~1929
  • 5 Lira (bullion gold, Monnaies de Luxe) 1927 ~1928
  • 10 Para 1936 (This smallest denomination coin was exempt from the contests of 1934, first drafts were announced in 1934. Newspapers and the magazines published photo of the models but it was introduced into circulation firstly in 1940.
  • 2005 Yılı 50 Yeni Kuruş (New Kurus) obverse bearing Atatürk facing right is also based on a reused model from his works of 1933.

His life and works are published in detail in a two volume book by Celil Ender & Orhan Okay (2003 & 2004 Turkish Numismatics Society Publications)