The Economics Of Designing Money

December 11, 2013 in Daily Bulletin

The US Mint is hiring. Ben Richmond described the opportunity:

  • In an economy with stubbornly high unemployment, the Mint is looking to do its part by hiring 20 artists to design American coins.
  • Artists are paid between $2,000 and $3,000 for each design that they submit.
  • There’s a $5,000 bonus for submitting a design that actually makes it onto a coin.
  • Even if a design is accepted that doesn’t necessarily mean the coin will make it into general circulation. Many of the Mint’s coins are commemorative.
  • While coin designers don’t get much credit they do get the satisfaction of knowing that they can sneak their initials onto the final design.
  • The opportunity isn’t just for any buffoon with a paintbrush. To qualify as an artist one must have five years of experience or a degree among other qualifications.

No word on what the designer of a potential trillion dollar coin would get. You can read more about how to apply for the job, the projects you might be tasked with, and where your coins might be distributed over here.

Source: Vice