ANA honors Thomas D. Rogers Sr. with Medallic Sculpture Award
The American Numismatic Association (ANA) confers its 2000 Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture in recognition of contributions to numismatic art.
This year’s recipient is Thomas D. Rogers Sr., whose style of carving directly in the negative mold – enabling him to achieve intricate detail – has brought him great notoriety.
For nearly 20 years, Rogers worked in the private sector of medallic sculpture, honing his skills and generating attention at the Medallic Art Company and as a freelance sculptor for a number of private mints, including Presidential Art Medals, The Metal Arts Co., Tri-State Mint, Johnson-Matthey and Medalcraft Mint. Throughout this time, he produced a series of collector plates, plaques and medallions. More than 90 of his portraits of inductees hang in the Honors Court at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Before joining the United States Mint as a sculptor/engraver in 1991, Rogers’ “Centurion” design was selected to appear on the obverse of the ANA’s 100th Anniversary medal.
After nearly a decade at the U.S. Mint, Rogers’ work has appeared on circulating and commemorative coins, as well as on a number of Mint medals. Most notable today is Rogers’ design for the reverse of the Sacagawea “golden” dollar. His skills in medallic sculpting also show on the reverse designs for the Massachusetts, Maryland and South Carolina quarters issued this year as part of the Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program.
Among Rogers’ design and sculpture credits for commemorative coins issued by the Mint are the reverses for the 1992 Christopher Columbus Quincentenary $1 and $5, 1994 Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Women in Military $1, 1995 Special Olympics and 1996 Olympic Games $1, and $10 Library of Congress; the obverses for the 1996 National Community Service and Smithsonian Institution 150th Anniversary $1, 1998 Robert F. Kennedy $1, and 2000 Library of Congress $1; and the obverse and reverse for the 1993 World War II 50th Anniversary $1.
Among the many medals designed and sculpted for the Mint by Rogers are the reverse for the 1992 U.S. Mint Bicentennial and 1998 Nelson Mandela medals; the obverse for the 1992 Persian Gulf, 1992 Mint Director David Rider, 1993 Benjamin Franklin/Firefighters, 1994 President William Clinton and 1999 Gerald and Betty Ford medals; and the obverse and reverse for the 1993 Secretary of Treasury Lloyd Bentsen medal.
In bestowing its award for excellence in medallic sculpture, the American Numismatic Association presents an engraved, 14kt-gold medal graciously donated by the Franklin Mint and expresses the sincere appreciation of its members.
Originally Release Date: August 13, 2000
ANA Contacts: Phone: 719-482-9872
Email: pr@money.org