Jamie Franki, associate chair of the Department of Art + Art History, has created the commemorative medal for the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) 2015 World’s Fair of Money, which takes place in Chicago Tuesday, Aug. 11, through Saturday, Aug. 15.
The medal, the fourth in a series inspired by the stars on the Chicago municipal flag, depicts the city’s famed 1933-34 World’s Fair, the Century of Progress. Franki will present a special “Money Talks” lecture on Friday, Aug. 14.
After the ANA selected Chicago as the host city for the World’s Fair of Money in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015, Franki was commissioned to create four medals to commemorate the four conventions. The 2011 issue commemorated the Battle of Fort Dearborn. The 2013 issue captured the tragedy of Chicago’s Great Fire and the city’s triumphant rebuilding from the ashes. The 2014 issue celebrated the World’s Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893. For 2015, the official medal of the World’s Fair of Money finishes the four-medal set with a Century of Progress theme from the Chicago World’s Fair held in 1933-34.
Franki is a former master designer in the United States Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program. In 2005, his American Bison Nickel reverse design was selected for a six-month minting and received the “Coin of the Year” award for Most Popular Coin. In 2006, his Jefferson 1800 nickel obverse design was featured on America’s historic forward-facing circulating coin. In October 2011, Franki received the American Numismatic Association's Presidential Award.