Norman Sillman.jpg
Norman Sillman (http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php/topic,6692.0.html), the British artist, sculptor and coin designer, died in July 2013.
I am very grateful to his grandson, Will Coles, who lives in Australia.
He has been kind enough to send me some images of his work.
These include sketches and plasters, illustrated below.
Here is Mr Sillman's majestic version of Britannia with lion. It looks as though he entered the competition to provide a design for the gold bullion Britannia coin. In the event, Philip Nathan, another fine designer, won the competition.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=82940;image)
Cayman Islands, 5 dollars, 1996. The Queen's 70th birthday.
Below is Mr Sillman's initial sketch of his design. and his plaster models.
Mr Sillman was a superb portraitist, and his effigy of the Queen is instantly recognisable. This design is dated for the year 2000. To my knowledge no such portrait was ever issued, so again I must assume that this was a competition entry.
Now we have the design for a medal, commemorating America's role in the Second World War. I am no expert on medals, so I do not know whether this one was ever issued.
Another plaster depicting the same subject.
The plaster for a British-themed medal, commemorating the Napoleonic wars. Again, I do not know whether the design was ever issued.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=18887.0;attach=73532;image)
UK one pound coin, reverse design, 1994.
Mr Sillman won the competition to design the UK pound series of 1994 to 1997. Each design represented one of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom. Below you can see his initial sketch and his plaster model.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=15897.0;attach=73693;image)
UK one pound coin, reverse design, 1995.
Mr Sillman's initial sketch of the Welsh dragon, a magnificent rendition.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=13575.0;attach=62609;image)
UK one pound coin, reverse design, 1996.
Mr Sillman's preliminary sketch of the design for Northern Ireland. Whereas the other designs in the series were taken from traditional heraldic elements, this design was entirely Mr Sillman's creation. Given the political and cultural tensions in Northern Ireland between Protestants and Catholics, he had to choose carefully, but he did his work superbly, producing a highly attractive, beautifully balanced design, that offended nobody.
What many people do not realise is that the design consists of two main elements: a Celtic cross, as seen in Mr Sillman's sketch above, overlaid with a Celtic gold torque. This is how Mr Sillman described the design, which was his own favourite of the series:
"The Northern Ireland pound was part of a national competition set, with elaborate prohibitions for party reasons. I was in Northern Ireland for a short time near Limavaday, where people were fond of the gold Celtic torque found there. From art history I knew of the pre-Catholic Celtic crosses, and my Irish plant books told me of the Yellow Pimpernel flowers around Loch Neagh. I couldn't lose! No politics."
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=18887.0;attach=73533;image)
UK one pound coin, reverse design, 1997.
Finally we see Mr Sillman's sketch of the famous English three lions.
Great insights into the designer's intention. These pictures richly deserve publication. A big thank you to <k> and Will Coles.
Peter
Will Coles has very kindly sent me some more scans. These are scans of the photographs that Mr Sillman took of his own coin designs before sending each one off to The Mint. Each is a plaster cast (of the plasticine design) and would have been the size of a small dinner plate.
This design commemorates the UK presidency of the EU, 1992-3. Sadly it was not adopted, as it is very lively, and preferable to the adopted design by Mary Milner Dickens (http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php/topic,19736.msg133586.html#msg133586). To be fair to Ms Dickens, it was not one of her best designs, and she produced some very lively coin and medal designs in later years.
Here is a design by Mr Sillman that commemorates the end of the Second World War. My guess is that it would have been intended as the 1995 UK 2 pounds commemorative issue. Unfortunately another design, a rather banal-looking peace dove, won the competition.
This very British-looking design commemorates the 16th Mint Directors' Conference of 1990. I suspect that this was intended to be a medal.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=84132;image)
1960 1 dong coin for Vietnam. President Ngo Dinh Diem, portrayed on the obverse, was assassinated in 1963.
Mr Sillman's notes state: "Coin portrait for Vietnam".
Mr Sillman's notes for this piece state: Official medal - First Fleet to Australia. A fine ship design graces the reverse.
A majestic conjoint portrait of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, commemorating their 40th wedding anniversary.
Mr Sillman's notes state: "Medal for Metal Import Ltd".
A design commemorating the Queen's 70th birthday. My suspicion is that this one was never issued, or certainly not as a coin.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=82937;image)
Jamaica, $10, 1993. 40th anniversary of the Queen's coronation.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=92144;image)
Mr Sillman's initial sketch of his design.
Mr Sillman's plaster cast of his design.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=84147;image)
Gambia, 10 dalasis, 1996. Queen Elizabeth inspects the Guard of Honour on her visit to Gambia.
Mr Sillman's plaster cast of his design.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=27141.0;attach=73535;image)
East Caribbean States, 10 dollars, 1996. The Queen's 70th birthday. The Royal Yacht, with St Lucia in the background.
Mr Sillman's plaster cast of his design.
To finish, another of Mr Sillman's designs depicting the Queen's 70th birthday. It looks familiar, yet I can't place the actual issue.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=89635;image)
Kenya, 5 shillings, 1985. President Daniel arap Moi.
And here is the original plaster of Mr Sillman's superb portrait.
"The Battle of the Armada, 1588." This looks like another intended coin design that was never issued.
This attractive design was evidently meant to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Unfortunately, it appears that it was never issued as a coin. Note the highly realistic portrayal of the lamb's posture.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=17663.0;attach=82944;image)
Oman, 1 riyal, 1997. Mountain gazelle.
Mr Sillman's talent for depicting wildlife is apparent once more.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=23338.0;attach=82945;image)
Oman, 1 riyal, 1997. Leopard.
This was the other plaster created by Mr Sillman for this two-coin set.
Quote from: <k> on January 11, 2014, 07:32:12 PM
"The Battle of the Armada, 1588." This looks like another intended coin design that was never issued.
One possible reason may be that the two Spanish ships in the background seem to profit from a different direction of the wind than the "Golden Hind" in the foreground. In addition, the Armada was defeated by storms, so it is unlikely that the ships would have been under full sail at any time. I also think Drake was smarter than to attack two big Spanish galleons crossing his tee with his much smaller ship. :)
Peter
Few depictions of bygone days are entirely realistic (or even meant to be), but I trust that the individual ships in the design met your approval, Able Seaman Figleaf?
In 1985 the UK issued a new portrait of the Queen for our circulation coins. It seems that Mr Silllman entered the competition (if there was one), or else he was commissioned to submit a design. His notes for this fine portrait simply state: "Coin obverse, un-used".
As above, Mr Sillman's notes state that this intended coin obverse was unused.
Mr Sillman's notes state: "Medal for Sandhill Ltd". Mr Sillman's grandson emailed me this comment: "He was very annoyed at having to include Prince Andrew's monogram. He was right too, it made the design unnecessarily cluttered, but Andrew insisted on it!".
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=91219;image)
Falkland Islands, 50 pence, 1996. The Queen and Prince Andrew on board HMS Invincible.
Mr Sillman's plaster for this design.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=91217;image)
The East Caribbean States, $10, 1993. 40th anniversary of the Queen's coronation.
The style of the legend on Mr Sillman's initial sketch suggests that the design was originally intended for the UK commemorative coin.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=91216;image)
Cayman Islands, $5, 1993. 40th anniversary of the Queen's coronation.
Two sketches by Mr Sillman that may have been the starting point for his Cayman Islands coin design shown above.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=78504;image)
Saint Helena and Ascension, 2 pounds, 1993. 40th anniversary of the Queen's coronation.
Two more of Mr Sillman's sketches commemorating the Queen's coronation.
Here Mr Sillman commemorates the Queen's 60th birthday with a design showing Britannia. His notes state: "Medal for Sandhill Ltd".
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=101342;image)
Solomon Islands, 5 dollars. The Queen's 70 birthday. The Royal Yacht Britannia in the South Pacific.
Mr Sillman's plaster of his beautifully scenic design.
Quote from: <k> on January 10, 2014, 08:52:33 PM
To finish, another of Mr Sillman's designs depicting the Queen's 70th birthday. It looks familiar, yet I can't place the actual issue.
It is the 5 dollars coin of Barbados 1996.
Here, Prince Charles is smiling broadly.
Here, Prince Charles is not smiling.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=91220;image)
Falkland Islands, 50 Pence, 1981. Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
The Cayman Islands decided to issue two coins in 1987, to celebrate the ruby wedding anniversary of the Queen and Prince Philip.
The sketch below illustrates the design concept that the Royal Mint offered to the Cayman authorities. The Royal Mint stressed that the roses would later be replaced by a flower species commonly found in the islands.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=78503;image)
Cayman Islands, 5 dollars, 1987. The Queen's 40th wedding anniversary.
Wild banana orchid (Myrmecophila thomsoniana) - the national flower of the Cayman Islands.
Mr Sillman's plaster of his design. He was worried that the client might not like it, since an orchid depends on its colour for its effect.
A gold 250 dollars was also produced with the design.
Disappointingly, the design does not clearly indicate the event that it commemorates.
Tonga issued a special series of gold and silver coins in 1975, to celebrate the centenary of the constitution. Mr Sillman's designs incorporated portraits of all Tonga's monarchs, past and present.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=91211;image)
The 5 pa'anga depicts King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and the constitution.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=91212;image)
The 10 pa'anga (left) depicts King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui (Burden of Maui), a stone trilithon on the island of Tongatapu.
The 20 pa'anga (right) depicts the monarchs of Tonga. Clockwise from the top they are Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, Queen Salote Tupou III (1918-65), George Tupou II (1893-1918), and George Tupou I (1845-93).
Now look at the sketches below. I found them in a National Archives PDF showing old Royal Mint documents. Unfortunately, two of the images were cropped as shown. To my knowledge, the design showing the parrot was never issued.