Earlier in the month, the coin hobby was surprised yet pleased when the announcement of a new Chief Engraver of the United States Mint had been appointed. Named to the prestigious position by Mint Director David J. Ryder, Sculptor-Engraver Joe Menna received the title and officially filled the vacant position as the 13th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint.
Joe Menna - 13th Chief Engraver
With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the University of Arts, a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the New York Academy of Art, and the addition of post-graduate studies at Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design, Menna has made it a priority to continue his professional education.
Before being hired on at the Mint, Menna worked as a sculptor and instructor at the Johnson Atelier Fine Arts Foundry in New Jersey. While employed there, he also continued his own personal works which included a seven-foot-tall statue made of cupro-nickel for the Grounds for Sculpture.
Menna joined the United States Mint in 2005 and was the first full-time digitally skilled artist to have been hired. With a background of skills and training spanning 32 years, Menna quickly positioned himself into being incredibly influential in digitally sculpted coins. According to the Mint, he also developed into a leader by making his continuing education and highly skilled training a priority when expanding his craft. In addition to the high praise from the Mint, Menna has won multiple times in different categories from Krause Publications’ Coin of the Year awards.
His full works for the United States Mint are presented below:
Design and Sculpting Recognition:
- 2018 World War I Centennial Silver Medals (Marine Corps) – reverse
- 2018 World War I Centennial Silver Medals (Air Service) – reverse
- 2017 Bob Dole Congressional Gold Medal – obverse
- 2016 National Park Service 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program – Silver obverse
- 2015 Presidential $1 Coins – Dwight D. Eisenhower obverse
- 2014 Presidential $1 Coins – Franklin Roosevelt obverse
- 2014 Shimon Peres Congressional Gold Medal – reverse
- 2013 Presidential $1 Coins – Theodore Roosevelt obverse
- 2013 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine reverse
- 2013 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Mount Rushmore National Park reverse
- 2012 First Spouse Gold Coin Program and Medal Program – Frances Cleveland (Term 2) reverse
- 2011 Fallen Heroes of 9/11 Congressional Gold Medals – Flight 93 obverse
- 2011 Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Program – Gold reverse
- 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Program – Commonwealth of Puerto Rico reverse
- 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Program – U.S. Virgin Islands reverse
- 2009 Presidential $1 Coins – William Henry Harrison obverse
- 2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – Cherokee Nation reverse
- 2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – Seminole Nation reverse
- 2008 Presidential $1 Coins – James Monroe obverse
- 2008 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Louisa Adams reverse
- 2007 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Martha Washington obverse
- 2007 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Abigail Adams obverse
- 2007 50 State Quarters Program – Utah reverse
- 2007 Presidential $1 Coins – George Washington obverse
- 2007 Presidential $1 Coins – Thomas Jefferson obverse
- 2006 Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal – reverse
Design Recognition:
- 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Yosemite National Park reverse
- 2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – Kiowa obverse
- 2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – Kiowa reverse
Sculpting Recognition:
- 2019 American Legion Commemorative Coin Program – Clad reverse
- 2019 American Legion Commemorative Coin Program – Gold reverse
- 2018 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Voyageurs National Park reverse
- 2018 World War I Centennial Silver Medals (Air Service) – obverse
- 2017 Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Congressional Gold Medal – obverse
- 2017 Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal – reverse
- 2017 Lions Clubs International Centennial Silver Dollar Coin – obverse
- 2017 Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Program – Silver obverse
- 2017 Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Program – Silver reverse
- 2016 Presidential $1 Coins – Ronald Reagan obverse
- 2016 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Nancy Reagan obverse
- 2016 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Cumberland Gap National Historical Park reverse
- 2016 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Fort Moultrie (Fort Sumter National Monument) reverse
- 2016 Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Program – Gold reverse
- 2015 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Kisatchie National Forest reverse
- 2015 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Blue Ridge Parkway reverse
- 2015 U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program – Silver reverse
- 2014 American Eagle Platinum Proof Coin Program – reverse
- 2014 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Everglades National Park reverse
- 2014 Native American $1 Coin – reverse
- 2014 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Florence Harding obverse
- 2013 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Edith Roosevelt obverse
- 2013 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing Victims Congressional Gold Medal – reverse
- 2013 Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Silver Dollar Coin – reverse
- 2013 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Program – Gold reverse
- 2013 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Program – Silver obverse
- 2013 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Program – Silver reverse
- 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Program – Gold obverse
- 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Program – Gold reverse
- 2012 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Acadia National Park reverse
- 2011 Native American $1 Coin – reverse
- 2011 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Vicksburg National Military Park reverse
- 2011 United States Army Commemorative Coin Program – Gold reverse
- 2011 United States Army Commemorative Coin Program – Clad reverse
- 2011 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Lucy Hayes reverse
- 2011 September 11 National Medal – reverse
- 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Hot Springs National Park reverse
- 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar Coin – reverse
- 2010 Lincoln Bicentennial One-Cent Coin – Preservation of the Union reverse
- 2010 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Abigail Fillmore reverse
- 2010 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – James Buchanan’s Liberty reverse
- 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One-Cent Coin – Presidency in Washington, DC reverse
- 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar Coin – reverse
- 2009 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Anna Harrison obverse
- 2008 50 State Quarters Program – Arizona reverse
- 2008 Bald Eagle Commemorative Coin Program – Clad obverse
- 2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – Tonto Apache Tribe obverse
- 2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – Tlingit Tribe obverse
- 2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – White Mountain Apache Tribe obverse
- 2008 Arnold Palmer Congressional Gold Medal – reverse
- 2006 San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Program – Gold obverse
Congratulations to Joe Menna!
Sources: www.usmint.gov