Joaquin Jimenez Wins 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award
Sculptor and coin designer Joaquin Jimenez received the 2019 Lifetime Achievement in Coin Design Award at the Thirty-Sixth Annual Coin of the Year Awards Ceremony, which was held in February. It was not his only big win — Jimenez designed the 50 Euro French Excellence – Guy Savoy 2017 silver coin that was named Coin of the Year for coins dated 2017.
Jimenez is presently the Chief Engraver at the Monnaie de Paris. As detailed by the Numismatic News, he started his career working for several private medal editors. He later worked as an independent artist for the Monnaie de Paris and other world banks.
Jimenez first made a name for himself when he won a competition to design the obverse of the first circulation 1 and 2 Euro coins for France in 1997. He went on to design numerous circulating and commemorative coins during his career. In 2013, he became the Director of Engraving Creation and Artistic Director of the Foundry at Monnaie de Paris.
Below are some of Jimenez’s most highly-regarded works:
- 1986: 10 francs, Rooster and Marianne
- 1989: 5 francs, Eiffel Tower, Winner of COTY 1991
- 1992: Albertville Olympics
- 1998: FIFA World Cup
- 2000: The XXth Century
- 2008-2010: The Kinetic Sower
- 2010-2012: Euros of the Regions
- 2011-2013: Hercules
- 2014-2015: The Rooster
- 2016-2019: Marianne
- 2017: France by Jean Paul Gaultier in artistic collaboration
In his acceptance speech, translated by colleague Julien Sabouret, Jimenez said, “I am often asked what is my favorite coin design. After a moment of thought, my answer is always ‘The next one.’”