Joseph Menna is a highly accomplished sculptor and the 14th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, known for pioneering the use of digital sculpting technology,
Key Facts
- Was born Joseph Francis Menna on 17th March 1970 in Stratford, New Jersey, United States.
- Moved to Russia and studied sculpture at the St. Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design.
- Became the first full-time digitally skilled artist for the United States Mint in 2005.
- Credited with creating the first fully digitally sculpted coin in global mint history, with the James Monroe coin release in 2008 as part of the Presidential Dollar series.
- Became the 14th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint in 2019.
- Collaborated with the Chief Engraver at The Royal Mint, Gordon Summers, to create the 'Britannia and Liberty' design.
Early Life & Education
Born Joseph Francis Menna on 17th March 1970 in Stratford, located in New Jersey, United States and grew up in the Blackwood area of Gloucester Township.
Joseph Menna began his formal artistic training in the early 1990's, graduating from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 1992 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture.
Later going to the New York Academy of Art, Joseph Menna earned a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture in 1994.
Shortly afterwards, Joseph Menna moved to Russia where he studied sculpture in St. Petersburg. Studying at the St. Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design, Jospeh Menna felt that the academy focus on classical realism was more rigorous than Western art education at the time.
By 2005, Joseph Menna had returned to the United States and continued to refine his skills at institutions such as the Art Students League of New York, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and The Sculpture Center in Manhattan.
Career & Notable Work
Leading up to 2005, Joseph Menna worked as a sculptor and instructor at the Johnson Atelier Fine Arts Foundry in New Jersey. Joseph Menna was also involved with creating life-sized figures and digital projects for various clients.
Joseph Menna sculpted, moulded, and cast approximately 100 life-sized figures while transitioning from his student years to his professional career at the Johnson Atelier Fine Arts Foundry. This included the following notable work:
- 'Grounds for Sculpture' Statue: A seven-foot-tall statue cast in cupro-nickel.
- Hamilton Train Station Monument: A temporary 30-foot-tall monument located at the Hamilton train station in New Jersey.
During this time, Joseph Menna taught himself digital sculpting to remain employed as the industry transitioned from traditional methods. This self-taught skill set was what eventually made Joseph Menna the ideal candidate for the United States Mint, leaving the Johnson Atelier Fine Arts Foundry in 2005 to become the first full-time digitally skilled artist for the United States Mint.
Working for the United States Mint from 2005, Joseph Menna has designed and sculpted numerous coins and medals across nearly every major program. Joseph Menna is recognised for his pioneering role in digital sculpting at the Mint, becoming the 14th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint in 2019.
Notable projects and releases which Joseph Menna has completed and managed while at the United States Mint have included:
- Presidential $1 Coins: Joseph Menna was involved with designing and sculpting the obverses for the Presidential Dollar coin releases. This included the coin release for George Washington and Thomas Jefferson in 2007 and James Monroe in 2008, which was credited as the first fully digitally sculpted coin in global mint history. Other coin releases in the Presidential series included William Henry Harrison in 2009, Theodore Roosevelt in 2013, Franklin D. Roosevelt in 2014 and Dwight D. Eisenhower in 2015.
- America the Beautiful Quarters: Involved with the creation of the Fort McHenry coin in 2013, Joseph Menna also designed and sculpted the reverse of the Mount Rushmore coin in 2013. The Mount Rushmore ‘National Memorial America the Beautiful’ quarter coin was later named the ‘Best Circulating Coin’, at the 2015 Coin of the Year Awards.
- American Women Quarters: Joseph Menna sculpted the reverse for the 2024 Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray and 2023 Maria Tallchief quarters.
- Apollo 11 50th Anniversary: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary in 2019 of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, Joseph Menna sculpted the common obverse for the commemorative coin releases.
- 2010 Lincoln Shield Cent: Joseph Menna sculpted the reverse of the newly designed and first issue of the Lincoln Shield Cent, also known as the Union Shield design in 2010.
- United States 250th Anniversary: Collaborated with the Chief Engraver at The Royal Mint, Gordon Summers, to create the 'Britannia and Liberty' design, marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.
- 9/11 Medals: Joseph Menna worked on the obverse of the Flight 93 Congressional Gold Medal and was involved in the creation of the September 11 National Medal.
As Chief Engraver at the United States Mint, Joseph Menna is currently the primary art director, responsible for overseeing the design and production of official coins and medals. Joseph Menna's duties involve leading a team of medallic artists and ensuring the artistic and technical quality of the coinage for the United States.
