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Tom Hipschen

Tom Hipschen

Master engraver at Bureau of Engraving and Printing (1968–2006) who engraved 130+ U.S. postage stamps and portraits on major currency; now faculty at Intaglio Engraver's Academy and member of U.S. Mint's Artistic Infusion Program.

Jun 30, 2026

Platemark: prints and the printmaking ecosystem

Platemark: prints and the printmaking ecosystem

s3e110 engraving currency and stamps with Tom Hipschen

Jun 30 · 1h 2m

Ann ShaferHOST
32:51
You've also been on coin projects, haven't you?
Tom Hipschen
Tom HipschenGUEST
32:53
Oh, yeah.
Tom Hipschen
Tom HipschenGUEST
32:55
After I retired, I was able to get into a group of artists who are on contract with the Mint to do coin designs.
Tom Hipschen
Tom HipschenGUEST
33:05
Turns out, when you work for the government, all of your work becomes public.
Tom Hipschen
Tom HipschenGUEST
33:10
All of my engraving for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is actually public domain.
Tom Hipschen
Tom HipschenGUEST
33:14
I mean, you can't counterfeit money because that's a whole different set of rules.
Tom Hipschen
Tom HipschenGUEST
33:19
But anything I did for it belongs to them and not to me.

16 MINS LATER

Ann ShaferHOST
49:03
Where do you start?

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