In Memory of Joel Iskowitz, Coin Designer

Joel Iskowitz, who designed more than 50 coins and medals for the United States Mint, has died at the age of 79.

Published on June 5, 2026

August 15, 1946 - April 23, 2026

His works included the 2009 Birth Bicentennial "Professional Life" Lincon cent and the 2012 Star Spangled Banner commemorative silver dollar obverse. Iskowitz directed his talents beyond coins, designing more than 2,000 stamps for 40 different countries around the world.

He was an artist for NASA and the United States Air Force and his commemorative oil paintings can be found at the Kennedy Space Center as well as global locations including Historical Association of Carenten in Normandy, France.

Iskowitz held a unique distinction according to the profile on the Minted Assets website, "Apart from his work with the US Mint, Joel Iskowitz holds the distinction of being the only American to have designed the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II for the coinage of the British Commonwealth."

A graduate of Hunter College, Iskowitz was inducted in the Hunter College Hall of Fame in 2011.

According to the online obituary from Keyser Funeral Service, "Known for his commitment to realist styles of portraiture and design, Iskowitz described his artistic process as a method of visual storytelling. He always began with a carefully researched attempt to seek out the personal histories of his subjects."

He is survived by his wife Suzanne and children Julia and Adam.