Local Storage seems to be disabled in your browser.
For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Local Storage in your browser.
Masters of Coin Design: Beth Zaiken
By GovMint:
Before coins can make it into the hands of the public or eager numismatists, they must first start at the drawing board. One particular coin designer responsible for several recent popular designs is Beth Zaiken.
Who Is Beth Zaiken?
From a young age, Beth Zaiken was particularly interested in all things animal-related, both real and imaginary. Her skills in drawing and painting led her to graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design with a B.F.A. in Illustration.
From there, her love of animals and landscapes drew her to work at Blue Rhino Studio in Minnesota and partner with many museums and zoos to create large murals. Beth Zaiken’s art is notable for its ties with nature, biology, realistic animals, and immersive landscapes.
In 2019, Beth Zaiken chose to apply her skills to the United States Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program (AIP), where she became an official United States Mint coin artist and designer. With her muralist work aimed at helping professionals and conservationists communicate their message to the public, Zaiken felt she could use this same goal as a coin designer.
In an interview about her role, Zaiken said, “I see coins as miniature exhibits you carry in your pocket—all are intended to communicate and educate.” That inspiration has guided her through creating several notable US coin designs.
What Is the U.S. Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program?
The Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) was established by the United States Mint in 2003 to incorporate a wide variety of artists from different backgrounds, experiences, and specialties into the minting process. One of the celebrated features of the program is the invitation for artists of different mediums to apply. Applicants do not necessarily need to be experienced coin designers to join.
For example, Beth Zaiken has been a part of the program since 2019, but her previous experience more heavily involved painting, illustrating, and murals.
When the AIP opens for applications, artists of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Both master and associate designers can join this prestigious program. Once selected, artists enter into a one-year contract, during which they can submit coin designs to a review committee throughout the year. Participating artists can elect to renew their contract at the end of the year.
Notable Coin Designs from Beth Zaiken
Beth Zaiken's art and murals primarily feature animals and nature. As a coin artist, she has taken these same themes and interests and applied them to her designs. One such example is her innovative 2021 American Liberty High Relief $100 Gold Coin design that features a Bucking Bronco and would go on to win the prestigious Best Gold Coin Design at the Coin of the Year (COTY) Award Ceremony in 2022. However, branching beyond her usual interests, Zaiken has also created images featuring people, such as the 2024 Harriet Tubman $1 Silver Commemorative Coin.
Find out more about all her coin designs below.
2024 Mesa Grande Sovereign Nation $1 Free Spirits– American Plains Bison
The first release in the Free Spirits series from the Mesa Grande Sovereign Nation honors the American Plains Bison. The awe-inspiring reverse design of a lumbering American Buffalo reflected in a pool of water was created by none other than, Beth Zaiken.
2024 Harriet Tubman $1 Silver Commemorative Coin
Zaiken designed both the obverse and reverse of the Harriet Tubman $1 Silver Commemorative Coin, one of her more recent designs. The obverse side features the important historical figure, Tubman, with her hand outstretched to the viewer. Meanwhile, the reverse side has two clasped hands, symbolizing a human bridge, and the Big Dipper constellation, symbolizing the beacon of freedom.
2024 American Innovation $1 Coin Program - Illinois
The American Innovation $1 Coin Program is a series highlighting American innovators from each state. Zaiken designed the reverse side of the Illinois American Innovation $1 Coin which features a steel plow, as created by John Lane, and a prairie field background.
2024 American Women Quarters™ Program- Patsy Takemoto Mink
As part of the first circulating quarter program exclusively featuring women, Zaiken designed the Honorable Patsy Takemoto Mink reverse. The reverse features Patsy Takemoto Mink holding up her groundbreaking “TITLE IX” legislation in front of the Capitol Building.
2023 American Innovation $1 Coin Program - Ohio
Similar to that of the Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coin, Zaiken’s reverse design for the 2023 American Innovation $1 Coin honoring Ohio features two clasped hands and a set of chains breaking. This poignant design symbolizes human connection and Ohio’s role in the Underground Railroad.
2022 National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Clad Half Dollar Commemorative Coin
In 2022, Zaiken designed both the obverse and reverse sides of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Clad Half Dollar Commemorative Coin. The obverse side shows the lower half of a military figure using crutches. The figure is missing their left leg from the thigh down, with the Purple heart alongside it and the words: “All gave some.” The reverse side of the coin features a boy holding a Marine’s cap and an empty silhouette behind him to symbolize how families of servicemembers are affected. This side contains the phrase, “Some gave all.”
Award-Winning 2021 American Liberty High Relief $100 Gold Coin & 2022 American Liberty Silver Medal
One of her most well-known designs is the obverse of the 2021 American Liberty Gold Medal, with the same design also appearing on the obverse of the 2022 American Liberty Silver Medal. This design focuses on a wild, bucking horse with an empty saddle and a sunset at its feet, resonating with the American spirit of fighting oppression and striving for liberty and freedom.
This gorgeous design was also notably the first of Zaiken's AIP designs to be selected by the United States Mint and would go on to win the prestigious "Best Gold Coin" during the annual Coin of the Year (COTY) competition held by Krause Publication.
Masters of Coin Design at GovMint
Beth Zaiken is a talented artist and innovative coin designer with a bright future in the world of numismatics. Discover more artists as part of our new coin designer series and start your search for Beth Zaiken’s coin designs here at GovMint.
Check Out These Gorgeous Beth Zaiken Designs!
References
About Beth Zaiken
U.S. Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program
Beth Zaiken Coin Designs
- https://bethzaiken.com/coin-and-medal-design
- https://catalog.usmint.gov/harriet-tubman-2024-proof-silver-dollar-coin-24CL.html/
- https://catalog.usmint.gov/american-innovation-1-coin-2024-rolls-and-bags-illinois-MASTER_INNOVATIONIL.html
- https://catalog.usmint.gov/american-women-quarters-2024-rolls-and-bags-patsy-takemoto-mink-MASTER_AWQPTM.html
© 2024 Copyright GovMint.com. All Rights Reserved. GovMint.com does not sell coins and numismatics as investments, but rather as collectibles. Please review GovMint’s Terms and Conditions, Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before using this website and prior to purchasing from GovMint.com.