An adder meanders over a bed of dried grass
This design brings attention to the beautiful organic curves of the snake’s body to evoke life and movement as it nestles into the round canvas. An overhead view highlights the repeating pattern of the adder’s scales in fine detail for a tactile experience as one holds the coin. The adder moves over a bed of grass which provides a visual connection to its natural environment.
Images copyright The Royal Mint.
My latest design from The Royal Mint celebrates the Chinese Lunar Year of the Snake with a range of gold and silver offerings for 2025.
United Kingdom Commemorative Coins
As I think about personal aspirations for the new year and spiritual reflections on my life, I see this as a significant milestone and what I consider the highlight of my art career. In 1989, I prepared a list of artist and musician life goals under the heading “Do you see someone skilled at their work? They will serve before kings…” —Proverbs 22:29.
Serve before kings?? Cool, I’ll get some skills and pray for that.
Papyrus guy and musician life aside, my successes and setbacks are stories for another time, but on my list was a goal to design one American coin. Since that time, I have designed over thirty coins for three countries. In April 2024, my Year of the Snake design for The Royal Mint’s Shēngxiào Collection was approved by King Charles III per royal proclamation and now graces this year’s coinage of the United Kingdom along side his effigy.
Serve before kings?? Well, OK then, yes! What a rare honor and blessing beyond my imagination. Thank you to the amazing and talented staff at The Royal Mint.
It took over three decades for this specific prayer to be answered, but the message is clear: don’t loose faith. Continue to create through failure and success. I’ll write a more comprehensive story of this artist’s journey later in the coming year, but for now, be patient and steadfast in the pursuit of your dreams because God works in decades.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. —Galatians 6:9
Chris Costello 