Year of the Monkey 2016 - The Royal Mint

These quirky roundel designs for the Royal Mint's Lunar New Year presentation packs are something I've been honoured to illustrate for the past few years. The Graphic device for each animal provides a lavish border for each special issue coin.

Here is the initial sketch developed to the finished doily. It takes me about one day to design and one day to cut the intricate patterns from one piece of paper.

Initial Sketch

Black and white version

The image I piece together on the computer.

 

Above is the level of visual that goes to the client for approval.

The final cut out

Below are the little stamps used as detail on the pack. I make these using a scalpel cut into ordinary pencil rubbers.

You can buy this Lunar Year of the Monkey presentation pack from the Royal Mint here 

Graphic Design was by hat-trick. 

These are two previous roundels I have made for the Royal Mint. The blogs for these are here for 2014 Year of the Horse, and here for 2015 Year of the Sheep/Ram. 

  

Year of the Horse 2014

Year of the Sheep 2015

 

150 Years of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Coin presentation pack for Royal Mint

I was asked to do this lovely job by Interabang for The Royal Mint.  This special coin edition celebrates the artists who have illustrated Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for the past 150 years.  

The Coin is first viewed on the envelope where it peeps through the hole of the key to reveal Alice on the cover, then Cheshire Cat on a corresponding hole on the reverse. 

Envelope with Royal Mail edition of stamps and key

Alice side of coin in the key ring

Alice side coin detail

Cheshire cat side coin detail

The coin continues to be a main device on the card inside where it appears down the rabbit hole Alice stands over. 

Cover with the coin

Opening the card, Alice is seen plummeting through the rabbit hole. The coin lays at the bottom where Alice's adventures into the world of Wonderland begin. 

Down the rabbit hole

The pack can be purchased directly through the Royal Mint's website, or indeed the Royal Mail. 

The artwork coming together