ANA honors T. James Ferrell with Medallic Sculpture Award
The American Numismatic Association (ANA) confers its 2002 Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture in recognition of contributions to numismatic art.
This year’s recipient is T. James Ferrell of Clayton, New Jersey, a sculptor/engraver for the United States Mint. His work at the Mint, as well as elsewhere, has earned him high praise in this challenging art form. As a trained and experienced artist, Ferrell has had work exhibited in many institutions and galleries since 1964.
After graduating from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1963, where he studied painting, sculpture and graphics, Ferrell worked as an artist for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin and served as monitor of the Professional Artists’ Graphics Workshop at the art academy. Ferrell went on to study art for two more years at Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania. He was awarded a Cresson European traveling scholarship, the Charles Toppan Prize for oil painting, four consecutive Luxes and the Woodrow prizes in print making.
Ferrell began producing coins and medals at the newly founded Franklin Mint in 1969, working under the tutelage of former U.S. Mint Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts. Five years later, he was asked to join the management team, but still produced artistic concepts for hundreds of medals.
Ferrell spent 20 years at the private mint, creating world coins and medals, including the 1975 100-balboa gold and 150-balboa platinum coins of Panama; the 1976 $100 and 25-peso coins of the Philippines; and the 1986, ’88 and ’89 $100 gold coins of Egypt. (The last one was selected as Coin of the Year by Krause Publications.)
Well known for his expertise in the techniques of coin and medal modeling, Ferrell joined the engraving staff at the U.S. Mint in 1989, where he has sculpted more than 30 coins, including the reverse designs of the Georgia, Connecticut, Vermont and Kentucky circulating commemorative State quarters. Among his other sculpting credits are the obverse and reverse designs of the commemorative 1992 Olympic $5, 1992 Christopher Columbus Quincentennial 50-cent coin, 1993 Thomas Jefferson 250th Anniversary silver dollar, 1993 World War II 50th Anniversary half-dollar and $5, and 1994 World Cup Soccer silver dollar; reverses of the commemorative 1991 Mount Rushmore 50-cent piece, 1991 Korean War Memorial silver dollar, 1995 Civil War Battlefields 50-cent coin, five 1995 and one 1996 Centennial Olympic coins, 1996 Smithsonian Institution 150th Anniversary $5, and 1997 Jackie Robinson 50th Anniversary silver dollar; and the obverse of the 1997 Franklin D. Roosevelt commemorative $5.
In addition to the quarters for the Mint’s 50 State Quartersâ„¢ Program, Ferrell’s other recent work includes Congressional Gold Medals honoring Ruth and Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II.Ferrell’s artistic work and dedication to his craft have made him well deserving of this award.
Therefore, in appreciation of his commitment to excellence in medallic sculpture, the American Numismatic Association presents an engraved, 14kt-gold medal to T. James Ferrell and expresses the sincere appreciation of its members.
Originally Release Date: August 3, 2002
ANA Contacts: Phone: 719-482-9872
Email: pr@money.org