Jamie Franki, associate chair of the Department of Art + Art History in the College of Arts + Architecture, designed the medal for the new Heath Literary Award. The Numismatist Magazine and the American Numismatic Association (ANA) created the award to celebrate the 1891 founding of the ANA by George Heath. The Heath Literary Award acknowledges excellence in scholarly research and writing related to the field of numismatics.
A recipient of the American Numismatic Association's Presidential Award, Franki is a prolific designer of coins and medals. He recently completed the Official Medal for the 122nd anniversary ANA Convention, the second in a four-piece series commemorating the Chicago municipal flag.
Franki also is a former master designer for 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.