PHILIPPINE COIN DESIGNER PAUL BALAN

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 14, 2026, Article 18

Local newspaper articles are a great source for information on less-well-known coin designers, such as many of the participants in the U.S. Mint's Artistic Infusion Program. Here's an excerpt from a Manila Times article about artist Paul Balan - see the complete article online. -Editor

Paul Balan, a renowned painter and designer from Paete, Laguna, now holds the distinction of being the first Filipino and first Asian artist in the prestigious United States Mint's Artistic Infusion Program (AIP).

His success, which includes designing circulating coins and congressional medals, followed a challenging journey that began when he immigrated to the United States with only $5 in his pocket.

Balan, whose maternal great-grandfather was master sculptor Pablo Bague, grew up in Paete, a town famous for its artists. Inspired by local folklore, he developed a love for drawing and briefly studied fine arts at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila before dropping out to support himself. He began his career by painting religious murals and designing stained glass for churches.

In 2001, he immigrated to Chicago, Illinois, at the urging of his wife, Marra, leaving behind a budding commercial art business. After initially working as a waiter, he secured a stable job with an electronics company, which allowed him to resume his artistic pursuits. He started producing a wide range of pieces centered on faith, nature and his Filipino heritage, joining local art competitions and exhibits.

Balan's career-defining break came when he won a spot in the U.S. Mint's AIP. Established in 2003, AIP invites American artists to create designs for U.S. coins and medals. Balan contributed designs to commemorative coins and congressional medals since joining the program in 2009.

In 2018, his design for the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was selected for the reverse of an "America the Beautiful Quarter." This coin, first circulated in 2010 as part of the program featuring national sites, marked his first design to enter circulation.

Balan's version of the American eagle was chosen for the reverse of the 2016 American Eagle Platinum Proof Coin. The design — part of a two-year series — depicts an American eagle rising in flight, symbolizing U.S. core values of liberty and freedom.

To read the complete article, see:
CHANGEMAKER-PAUL CAINTO BALAN (https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/04/06/diaspora-spotlight/other-side-of-the-coin/2314440)