US Mint Selects 37 Artists for Coin and Medal Designs

The United States Mint on Aug. 31 named 37 artists to its Artistic Infusion Program (AIP), including four newcomers who will have opportunities to develop designs for future U.S. coins and medals.

Kristine Campbell, Donovan Corcoran, Gian Galang and James Martin are joining the program for the first time. The other 33 artists are returning AIP participants.

Their selection follows a nationwide search launched earlier this year. As CoinNews reported in January, the Mint accepted applications from Jan. 8 through Feb. 9 from professional artists interested in contributing to the design of U.S. coins and medals.

Applicants initially submitted 5 to 10 portfolio images. Some advanced to a second evaluation phase that could include a resume or CV, an online portfolio and a demonstration design. Artists participating in that phase received $1,500.

The Mint said the four new artists were selected based on the artistic merit of their applications.

Artistic Infusion Program

Established in 2003, the Artistic Infusion Program gives the Mint access to professional artists outside its permanent engraving staff. Participants work from their own studios and may receive assignments to produce candidate designs for selected coin and medal programs.

Those designs are considered alongside artwork developed within the Mint. When an AIP design is chosen, a Mint medallic artist typically translates the drawing into the sculpted form needed for production.

AIP artists currently receive $3,000 for each design assignment and an additional $5,000 when one of their designs is selected for a coin or medal.

In most cases, the designer’s initials appear on the finished piece along with those of the Mint medallic artist who sculpted the selected design.

37 Artists Selected

The Mint’s newly announced AIP roster includes Esao Andrews, Peter Beck, Tasha Beckwith, Kristine Campbell, Sean Cheetham, Robert J. Clarke, Francis Cook, Donovan Corcoran, Chris Costello, Emily Damstra, Lucas Durham, Donald Everhart, Barbara Fox, Jamie Franki, Dennis Friel, Kimberly Fulton Orozco, Gian Galang, Elana Hagler, Jesse Hernandez, Christina Hess, Thomas Hipschen, Kathryn Hudson, Robert Kraiza, James Martin, Matthew Molen, Sean Murray, Laurie Musser, Walter O’Neal, Christopher Polentz, Paul Romano, Ronald Sanders, Andrew Sides, Benjamin Sowards, Gennady Spirin, Matthew Swaim, Sara Tepes and Beth Zaiken.

Many of the returning artists have already contributed designs to circulating coins, commemorative issues, collector coins and medals.