Graphic artist and illustrator Chris Costello has been named the winner of the first American Numismatic Association (ANA) Auction Cover Design Competition.
Costello’s composition, “Liberty Alive,” was chosen by an independent panel composed of Kenneth Bressett, ANA past president; David Harper, editor of Numismatic News; Barbara Gregory, editor of The Numismatist; Mary Lannin, club president and numismatist; and medallic sculptor Heidi Wastweet. There were more than 130 designs submitted by more than 50 artists from around the world.
ARTIST & BOARD MEMBER
Costello serves on the board of trustees for the Cyrus Dallin Art Museum and is a U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program artist. He has designed 15 U.S. coins and medals, including the 2014 Tennessee America The Beautiful Quarter; the 2016 Mark Twain silver obverse; and the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Congressional Gold Medal obverse.
The cover of Kagin’s 1983 ANA Auction catalogue features a rendition of sculptor Anthony de Francisci’s Liberty by famed artist Peter Max.
“Chris was inspired by our 1983 Peter Max, ‘Lady Liberty’ ANA cover,” said Don Kagin, president of Kagin’s Auctions, who will be presenting Costello with the $5,000 first-place prize at the first session of the ANA National Money Show auction on March 9.
“We are thrilled that Chris jumped at the opportunity to combine his interest in numismatics and his passion for art,” added Kagin. “This is what we were attempting to achieve with this competition—to reach and include non-traditional numismatic markets such as the collectible auction and art world by demonstrating how imaginative, cutting-edge and fun numismatics can be.
BACK COVER
“When we received entries from around the world, we knew we had achieved our goal. Our second-place winner is a young Italian graphic artist and coin designer, whose entry we are placing on our back cover.”
Artist Sandra Deiana also earned the honour of having her artwork grace the back cover of the 2017 ANA National Money Show auction catalogue.
Deiana, a 26-year-old student at the School of Art of Medal Making (a unique program of the Italian Mint in Rome), previously won a competition to design the silver 10 euro Proof coin celebrating the Irish architect and designer Eileen Gray—the first time Ireland celebrated a woman on one of its coins.
For a free auction catalogue or more information about the sale, contact nina@kagins.com.