Iskowitz’s designs have been selected for more than 50 U.S. coins, medals
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) recently announced Joel Iskowitz—a prolific designer of coins and medals worldwide and one of the few living artists to have his artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon and the White House—will join its team of star-studded signature label signers.
In 2005, Iskowitz was accepted into the U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP), which was established two years prior as an attempt to bring additional talent and diversity to the U.S. Mint. His designs have been selected for more than 50 U.S. coins and medals. Among these designs are four reverses for the America the Beautiful Quarters program, five reverses for the American Platinum Eagle, 11 obverses or reverses for the First Spouses series (including Mary Todd Lincoln and Dolley Madison) and four Presidential Dollar obverses (including Andrew Jackson and James Madison). He’s also the only American to have designed the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that has graced the coinage of the British Commonwealth.
“I am honoured to join the other accomplished artists in NGC’s Signature Labels program,” said Iskowitz following the July 17 announcement. “I look forward to working with NGC on these unique collectibles.”
COMMEMORATIVE COINS TO CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS
Iskowitz also designed several popular U.S. commemorative coins, including the 2008 Bald Eagle silver dollar obverse; the 2011 Medal of Honor gold $5 reverse; the 2012 Star-Spangled Banner silver dollar obverse; and the 2015 U.S. Marshals Service half dollar obverse.
In addition, Iskowitz’s designs were selected for several recent Congressional gold medals, including:
- the New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal (both obverse and reverse) awarded to astronauts John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin in 2009;
- the Women Airforce Service Pilots Congressional Gold Medals awarded in 2010;
- the Nisei Soldiers of World War II Congressional Gold Medal (obverse) awarded in 2010;
- the Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Gold Medals (Tonto Apache Tribe obverse, Seminole Nation obverse, Ponca Tribe obverse and reverse, Hopi Tribe obverse and reverse and Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes reverse) awarded in 2013;
- the New York Fallen Heroes of 9/11 Congressional Gold Medal awarded in 2014; and
- the Monuments Men Congressional Gold Medal awarded in 2015.
Aside from his work with the U.S. Mint, Iskowitz has designed a number of private medals and more than 2,000 stamps for 40 nations. An accomplished painter, his work is represented in major museums—both in the U.S. and Europe—including the Kennedy Space Center Museum, the Historical Museum of Carentan, France, and the U.S. Air Force Art Collection. His numismatic art is also found in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; the September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York; and the National World War II Museum in Louisiana.
Iskowitz (shown above) is the only American to have designed the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that has graced the coinage of the British Commonwealth.
ACCOMPLISHED COIN & MEDAL DESIGNER
“Joel Iskowitz is one of the most accomplished coin and medal designers of the last decade with an impressive body of work that covers some of the most important subjects and people in American history,” said NGC Chairman Mark Salzberg. “We are very fortunate to be able to work with an artist of his caliber.”
NGC Joel Iskowitz Authentic Hand-Signed Labels will be available from select retailers this summer.
LEGENDARY LABEL SIGNERS
Last month, NGC signed astronaut Charlie Duke, who’s one of only 12 people to have walked on the surface of the moon, to individually autograph its certification labels.
Iskowitz and Duke are joining an impressive list of label signers that includes Montréal-born actor William Shatner; long-time editor of A Guide Book of United States Coins (also known as the “Red Book”) Kenneth Bressett; and 12th chief engraver of the U.S. Mint John M. Mercanti, who also designed the reverse of the American Silver Eagle.
For more information about NGC’s Authentic Hand-Signed Labels, visit NGCcoin.com/labels.