Enthusiastic coin collectors may well think of designs featuring 19th-century English kings and queens when asked about the gold coins in their collections. However, there are of course many others, including coins with Arabic inscriptions and gold coins made on-demand today.
Ancient Egypt can also supply the inspiration for producing gold coins, as this was a civilisation that had deep connections with gold and even saw it as somehow embodying or representing its essence.
One company producing gold coins today asked Egyptian designer Mahinaz Elmessiry to design some gold coins knowing that she had already launched her line of designs inspired by ancient Egypt.
“When I met with the coin company, they asked me to create designs that captured the ancient Egyptian civilisation’s essence rather than just its symbols and visual aspects. We began with meetings and discussions, and then I started to work on the collection, initially designing three coins. They then requested two additional designs, followed by one more, bringing the total to six,” she said.
She spent about seven months creating and overseeing the making of the gold coins. “I aimed to produce designs that say something about our heritage, each piece bearing a distinctive pattern that imparts some information.”
During the reign of the ancient Egyptian King Akhenaten, for example, the sun god Aten was worshipped as giving life and aid to the ancient Egyptians. Aten was represented as a sun disk with rays ending with human hands, symbolising the gift of life to both the ancient Egyptians and their rulers.
When choosing a design for her six coins, Elmessiry used the symbol of the ancient Egyptian god Aten. “The idea of Aten helping the ancient Egyptians reminded me of how we Egyptians use similar expressions today, saying that God will extend a helping hand to us. I was confident that my designs would appeal to people and capture their interest as a result,” she said.
“I was also inspired by the Hymn of Aten chanted by the ancient Egyptians when selecting backgrounds for the six designs. The Hymn describes the sun god shining and extending life and energy to all creatures on Earth, and I eventually launched the six coins under the name of the Aten Collection.”
“One side of the coins features the sun god Aten with the sun’s rays reaching out to the Egyptians. On the other side, there are images of golden lotus flowers, papyrus plants, ducks, palm trees, and the Nile.”
“The lotus flower is one of the most important plants revered by the ancient Egyptians. It was deeply associated with the sun god Aten, as its changes during the day are directly linked to the sun’s journey from east to west. As a result, I put it on the reverse side of the six designs.”
“I used the lotus flower in a design that features the golden fan of King Tutankhamun. I integrated the lotus shape with the fan to add a sense of movement to the design. Choosing the golden fan of Tutankhamun highlights the link between the ancient Egyptians and gold, as the fan was a part of the treasure discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamun,” Elmessiry noted.
“For the third design, I chose the lotus and other flowers that flourish on the banks of the Nile such as chamomile, gathering them together to convey the impression that these flowers represent renewal with the Nile below them reflecting the concept of eternity,” she said.
In one of the designs, Elmessiry used papyrus, a symbol of Lower Egypt in ancient times and the first material ever used for writing. “I drew my inspiration from some exquisite ancient Egyptian drawings, while making slight modifications to them. In my design, papyrus plants proudly rise up on long stalks with a delicate engraving of a duck among them, echoing a scene from ancient Egypt.”
For the fifth design, she selected a palm standing tall with graceful proportions, such as those the ancient Egyptians carved on the walls of the Hatshepsut Temple in Upper Egypt.
Another well-chosen symbol was a medal of honour known as the “golden fly” and one of the most intriguing designs. “During my first meeting with the coin company, I wore a T-shirt from a collection inspired by ancient Egyptian civilisation that I had launched and that featured an illustration of the golden fly. This was originally a pendant design bestowed by the king to a commander in ancient Egypt and was one of the highest honours awarded to leaders who expanded Egypt’s territory.”
“It’s intriguing that the ancient Egyptians chose to bestow a pendant shaped like a fly as an honour. But because our ancestors were known for observing creatures deeply and recognising the importance of all living beings, they identified in the fly qualities such as determination, perseverance to achieve its goals, agility in attack, and difficulty in capture.”
“As a result, they thought that a successful leader will be valued and rewarded for his persistence in achieving the goals a fly has.”
ANCIENT INSPIRATION: Elmessiry’s primary goal in drawing inspiration from ancient Egyptian symbols is to convey their meanings.
“The designs initially spark curiosity, but understanding the deeper meanings behind them increases everyone’s appreciation for the creativity and sophistication that the ancient Egyptians used in their art and history.”
After finalising the designs, Elmessiry decided to celebrate the ancient Egypt-inspired coins in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
“This was the best way for visitors to see how these designs connect to their ancient Egyptian roots from thousands of years ago. The Egyptian Museum has a special place in my heart and memories. On every visit when I was studying Egyptology, I would carry a pen and paper and draw inspiration from this unique civilisation by sitting in a corner of the museum to sketch and contemplate,” she said.
“We had a meeting with the management of the Egyptian Museum to discuss the overall concept of the collection and how each design was individually inspired. This meeting included two tour guides. Together, we envisioned and conducted a tour to ensure the exhibition accurately reflected the thought and message behind the collection.”
“The exhibition featured the gold coins alongside items from ancient Egypt. Guided tours were available in Arabic and English in which the guides explained each coin’s story alongside the ancient Egyptian object that inspired it or the era it dates back to. People actively engaged with the exhibition, asking questions about the symbols and their meanings,” she said.
“The exhibition highlighted ancient Egyptian goldsmithing, emphasising their enduring connection with gold over time. Skilled artisans today continue to master these techniques, which I also frequently use in my work. For instance, designing the gold coins presented certain challenges: sometimes, we executed the designs directly, while at other times I had to make minor adjustments to enhance their visibility.”
“In every case, the artisans executed the designs accurately, resulting in a range of coins along with a pendant.”
The gold coins were not the first collection inspired by ancient Egypt that Elmessiry has made.
“I had wanted to launch a collection inspired by ancient Egypt since 2012, but I also wanted to research and study its symbols and meanings until I could put together a collection that reflected the essence of ancient Egyptian civilisation, not just its form,” she said.
“After studying Egyptology for two years, attending courses and training sessions and reading dozens of books, I launched a collection of home accessories, pottery, and fashion inspired by ancient Egypt in 2022.”
A former student of interior and product design and art history at the Louvre School in Paris, Elmessiry has always had a keen interest in heritage. She has paid particular attention to Egypt’s rich culture, including from Nubia, Siwa, and other areas of the country.
“I developed the habit of studying the history and culture associated with each era or place from which I drew inspiration for my designs. For instance, before launching my designs inspired by Nubia, I conducted extensive research on its people and buildings to incorporate elements from their daily lives rather than just their outward appearance. I discovered that the Nubians adorned the walls of their homes with colourful paintings, which I then also used for fabric designs.”
“Similarly, when designing a collection inspired by the Siwa Oasis, I sent fabrics for cushions to women in Siwa to embroider. I always strive to imbue my designs with the proper techniques and methods before focusing on visual forms,” she added.
In addition to creating designs inspired by heritage in a modern manner that suits current trends, Elmessiry feels a special responsibility towards documenting Egyptian heritage and its diverse cultures.
“When researching the symbols of each culture and each heritage, experts notice the differences and details that non-specialists might miss. That is why I always design two collections: the first adheres to the original designs as if to document them and to highlight aspects that I see as unique; while the second embodies my way of innovating what I’ve seen to present it in a contemporary form.”
“I envisioned the coins as if I were an ancient Egyptian designer wanting to incorporate motifs and sacred symbols. Then, I created another collection imagining myself as an ancient Egyptian living in the 21st century designing a series of gold coins using familiar motifs and inscriptions but with a modern and developed twist.”
* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 July, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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