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Comments on "Norman Sillman: Coin Designer"

Started by Bimat, July 02, 2010, 01:25:45 PM

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Bimat

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Norman Sillman: Coin Designer




The coins are beautifully designed, thanks for sharing! 8)

Aditya
It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. -J. K. Rowling.

<k>

#1
Glad you like them, Aditya.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

Bimat

#2
The Sudanese designs are beautiful! Especially the first two. 8)

Aditya
It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. -J. K. Rowling.

Figleaf

Going over this thread again, I see that a later coin for Vietnam was cut by an English engraver (ata time the US mints were discouraged taking orders from other countries), while in the Patey thread, we saw an earlier coin made by a French designer.

Without any disrespect for other contenders, how much would the nationality of the designer matter? Instinctively, I think the answer is "very much". There is not only the selection process, in which the mint chosen may play a dominant role, maybe arguing that it needs close contact with the designer for technical reasons, but also all kinds of implicit and explicit political processes to pressure civil servants into doing the politically correct thing.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

Figleaf

Mr. Sillman seems to have been unaware of the difference in shape between your run-of-the-mill coconut and the coco-de -mer, for which the Seychelles are famous. Those on the coat of arms are more biologically correct.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

squarecoinman

I think that NS did a great job on converting the coat of arms to a very nice coin , also one has to remember that 1972 was a pretty bad year for coconuts including the coco du mer

Michael
World square coin book 1900-2000

squarecoinman

Note to K , it is a daily pleasure to come and look at the coin designers part of WOC

just wanted to let you know that I do really appreciate the work you put in to this  :D

Michael
World square coin book 1900-2000

<k>

Quote from: squarecoinman on August 04, 2012, 05:51:12 PM
Note to K , it is a daily pleasure to come and look at the coin designers part of WOC

just wanted to let you know that I do really appreciate the work you put in to this  :D

Michael

Thank you, Michael, I'm glad you like it. It's always interesting to look at a designer's portfolio and think: one man (or woman) did all this. I have the Royal Mint, the National Archives (London), and in several cases the designers themselves to thank for the knowledge I have amassed about these designs. A lot of work and workmanship goes into coins, but without designers and their designs, they would be quite unimaginable.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

Bimat

#8
Moon landing and £1 sculptor dies at age of 92

Published on 01/08/2013 07:21

The man who designed four of the most recent £1 coins in circulation as well as medals for the team behind the 1969 moon landing has died.

Norman Sillman, of Eye, passed away on July 18 after a long illness. He was 92.

The sculptor designed more than 200 coins for 33 different countries during an illustrious career.

Talking to the Diss Express in 2011, Mr Sillman said of his currency-sculpting career: "I suppose you could say it was a dream job, as it combined a number of my interests."

Born in London in 1921, Mr Sillman enrolled at Blackheath School of Art at 14.

He was later called up for national service, but was wounded in Italy in 1943.

Mr Sillman married Gillian in 1945, and became a sculptor in London after completing his studies. He received his first commission for a coin from the Royal Mint in 1956 for Bermuda.

He went on to design the Celtic cross with a pimpernel flower £1 coin for Northern Ireland (1996), the three lions passant for England (1997), and the Welsh dragon and Scottish lion £1 coins (1995 and 1994 respectively).

The funeral for Mr Sillman, an ex Eye Town Councillor who is survived by his daughter, Caroline, takes place today at the West Suffolk Crematorium from 11.15am.

Source

It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. -J. K. Rowling.

<k>

#9
Thank you for the news, Aditya. That was a long, active and distinguished life. I believe he was still designing coins at the age of 77, and that was just a part of his talent, as he was an all-round artist and sculptor. Mr Sillman had been kind enough to provide me, via his grandson, with a list of his coin work and answer my questions while he was in his late eighties. It was evident that he still had a very good memory and a sharp mind, despite his age.

I shall remember Mr Sillman as one of the great British/English numismatic designers. His wildlife designs for Zambia, both decimal and pre-decimal, were a delight, and he was also a superb portraitist.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.