Winning Coin Designer Was Last-Minute Entrant

Every year Redondo Beach issues a decorative coin commemorating something historical in the city. Coins have been issued for the construction of the 9-11 memorials and the 50th anniversary of King Harbor last year, for example.

In dedication to the new north branch library on Artesia Boulevard and Green Lane, the city invited artists to submit coin designs. Several artists turned in entries. Oldair Sayula's design was chosen.

Patch.com asked Sayula how he came up with the idea for the coin.

I currently teach computers at Vista Grande Elementary in Palos Verdes.

 I was browsing the Redondo Beach website one day and I linked onto the posting that advertised the Library Coin Contest.

 I read all the details on submitting the design and was surprised that it was due that very Friday. 

This only gave me a week to think of some ideas for the coin. Since I am in a computer lab all day, I started searching the internet for images that represented the coin theme "Navigating the World of Information."

 Ironically, that week and in the following weeks after the deadline, I was teaching the kids (4th & 5th graders) how to design their own company logos using Microsoft Word and Paint. 

I found many great images using books, sailboats, compasses, and other design elements for the coin. 

I also wanted to incorporate a Redondo Beach Landmark into the design. Luckily for me, all the participants were allowed to email their entries in (and also more than one was also allowed). 

I ended up submitting 6 different designs and hoped for the best. I was notified towards the end of June by email from John LaRock who is the Cultural Arts Director for Redondo Beach that one of my designs was chosen as the winner. 

I was later invited to the Installation Dinner for the new Chamber of Commerce to unveil the coin and meet the mayor. 

I was very honored and happy and I took my daughter with me as my special guest. We had a blast. 

I was given a coin with my design on it, as well as a $100 gift certificate for Amazon.com. It makes me feel very proud to be a part of Redondo Beach history and I was again honored to be invited back to present my coin to the City Council.

--Oldair Sayula