Equestria Ten Bit Coin

I am a numismatist and have been designing coins for a while now for my Military Academy as well as commemorative and military challenge coins. Since joining this fandom back in 2011 I have been wanting to see some MLP themed coins made. I designed a coin back in Nov 2011 and have been working with different groups of people to see it made, but after almost two years nothing happened. Finally, I found someone who was making Brony Coins and hoping to see this coin finally realized offered to lend my design.

The new person commissioned me to design new coins. Since I was recently cut off from my family, needed to pay for rent, and wanting to see my original design realized as a physical coin, I took the job. It was my first time doing commissioned work for the Brony fandom, normally they are through professional companies that manages all the contacts. I have heard horror stories of people not getting paid for art commissions in this fandom, plus my busy pre-med, military schedule, was the reason why I never took any online commissions.

The person who hired me to design the coins was sketchy, asking for personal information (like where I lived or went to school), not having a contract, if I was a brony, not allowing me to talk to other people about our emails or conversations, etc. Also the fact he specifically stated he is not a brony and purely are making these coins for business. I designed these coins based off classic 20th Century American coins which I collect, which are considered the most beautiful coins in the world.

The problem started to come when I had to do a redesign, and given limitations “don’t use Hasbro ponies” “don’t use Hasbro cutie marks” which is understandable for copyright reasons. But as most coins have a human profile, that limits the subject matter that could be used for the coin. I decided that the America the Beautiful National Park Quarters was the way to go, with their beautiful landscapes.

I decided to base three coins around honoring the three pony races. Each coin was one part of the whole and made use of that theme. One would each be of a three coinage metals, copper, silver, and gold. And each had one part of a three part Latin motto, each representing one of the three races but together representing Equestria. Each coin also has a symbol honor one of the three princesses Celestia, Luna, Twilight (Cadence is for another design).

This first coin honors the Earth Ponies and is of copper. I decided to have a view of Sweet Apple Acres frosted on a proof mirror finish. The back is a wreath of apple leaves with a horseshoe.

The second coin honors the Pegasus and is of silver. I decided to have a view of Cloudsdale. The back is a wreath of clouds and lightning bolts much like an Air Force Officer’s cap.

The final coin honors the Unicorn and is of gold. I used a shot of Canterlot for the image. The back is a wreath of oliver branches representing the wisdom of the unicorns.

After a third redesign of all the coins and a finally touch up, I sent the designs in, only to be told my services weren’t needed.

“I don't think this partnership is going to work out.
I thank you for your work and wish you success in all of your future endeavors… I have to get your designs finished by another designer. I am not happy with the designs or the time it takes to get work from you… ”

Again this is coming from a man who thinks a giant comic sans 10 on a coin with nothing else is a beautiful coin design. I will not name names as I don’t believe in smearing but it does still annoy me that I would not be paid for my art which he would give to another artist to redesign. So that is my first experience with doing brony commissions, having my time wasted and artwork stolen. If you do see my coin designs out there being used without my permission please inform me thank you.

While I would like to see this design as a physical coin, I do want to be fair and not try and get this minted at the present, until this situation clears up. However I still would like to get that coin design I have been hanging on since Nov 2011 finally get made ([link]. So if you know a mint and would like to help out, that would be appreciated.