Meet year of the snake coin designer Sean Rogers
Coin designer Sean Rogers joined The Perth Mint in 2019 after moving from South Africa. In this Q&A he shares the inspiration behind his designs and insight into his career journey.
From September 10, 2024, The Perth Mint will start launching its Year of the Snake coins, which form part of the Australian Lunar Coin Series III series designed by Sean.
Struck from 99.99% pure gold, our most prestigious Year of the Snake proof coins portray a snake curled among bamboo stems. Crafted with equal precision, our 99.99% pure silver proof coins portray a coiled snake on the ground beneath hanging leaves.
What inspired the Australian Lunar Coin Series III Year of the Snake coin designs?
I have tried to express many facets of the snake’s personality within the design, from its mystery and magnetism to its assertiveness. I also wanted to show it as an alert, intelligent, and perceptive creature - character traits that those born under its influence would easily identify with.
How are the coins presented?
These coins are packaged in beautifully illustrated shippers featuring the wise and intelligent snake. What I love is that they can be displayed alongside other shippers from previous issues in this series to create a diorama depicting all 12 auspicious animals of the Great Race.
What inspired your interest in drawing?
I am originally from South Africa where at a young age I began drawing eagles. Fascinated by the way they moved, which made each piece different, I took every opportunity I could to sketch them. South Africa has many different landscapes and other wild animals too, so inspiration was not hard to find.
How did you prepare for a career as a professional illustrator?
After school I completed a degree in graphics design which taught me many different techniques. A special interest in technical design, especially perspective drawing, has been very helpful throughout my career. As a student I was also able to test my design and illustration skills in the clothing industry where I prepared graphics for tees, catalogues and packaging.
What do you love about coin design?
When I moved to Australia the prospect of designing coins at the historic Perth Mint really caught my imagination and I was delighted to be able to join in 2019. The process was a whole new challenge. Every brief is different, but it’s really exciting, especially when I see my concepts appear on a beautifully finished coin.
“Going to art galleries and museums when I was younger made me appreciate how artists viewed the world with different shapes and colours. Nature inspired me to capture my own experiences, and to illustrate the world and how I viewed it.”
What has been your favourite design project?
The Games Through the Ages 2022 2oz Silver Antiqued Coin, a piece featuring 11 motifs symbolising games long-established in human culture, as well as a 3D insert representing naughts and crosses, or tic tac toe.
