PERTH MINT COIN DESIGNER ING ING JONG

Ing Ing Jong, a Perth Mint coin designer, recently discussed with me her experience as a coin designer and her work on the new American Bald Eagle high relief silver proof coin, a stunning piece that depicts the bird’s profile in exquisite detail. The coin has a limited mintage of 5,000 units, most of which sold out quickly at various U.S. coin distributors over the past few weeks. The coin was minted by Perth on behalf of the government of Tuvalu.

LG - What are the main influences on your work?

IIJ- - As a huge Disney fan, my love of illustration and animation grew naturally from a young age. I have a real passion for drawing and creating characters. I completely admire how Disney animators are able to convey the essence of the character’s emotions through their sketches. The fact that I too can put life into my designs through Perth Mint coins is very rewarding.

LG - What inspired you to create the Tuvalu high relief bald eagle coin, and to zero in on the bird’s profile, which I have never seen before in an eagle coin?

IIJ- - Following the brief, I wanted to ensure that I accurately presented the protective gaze on the birds face. As the symbol of the United States and a source of pride for the nation, the American Bald Eagle stands for strength, courage and freedom, which I aimed to reflect in my design.

LG - What are the advantages of doing the design in high relief?

IIJ- - I thoroughly enjoy working on high relief projects as the deep metal blank captures the finer features of an intricate coin design. The advantage of using high relief on the American Bald Eagle coin meant that we have a more sculpted detail emphasis on the bird’s face and neck, highlighting its amazing plumage.

LG - Please tell us a little about the process you go through when creating a coin and the technologies you use.

IIJ- - We’re very lucky that The Perth Mint provides us with a range of modern technology, making our job so much easier. We use advanced graphics tablets which enable us to hand-draw images similar to the way a person draws with a pencil and paper. When designing the American Bald Eagle coin, I started off with a sketch and then scanned it into my computer and used my tablet to render the design. Our team of talented engravers then manipulated the artwork into 3D bringing the final piece to life.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: PERTH MINT COIN DESIGNER ING ING JONG (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n03a30.html)

To read the complete article, see: The Coin Analyst: Interview with Ing Ing Jong, Perth Mint Coin Designer (www.coinweek.com/featured-news/coin-analyst-interview-ing-ing-jong-perth-mint-coin-designer/)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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