The world's premier collectables auction house.

Private sales of stamps, coins, banknotes, medals, bonds & shares, autographs, books and fine wines

R.M. Smythe specializes in the auctioning and private sales of stamps, coins, banknotes, medals, bonds & shares, autographs, books and fine wines. Established in 1880 this historic, privately owned company had arrived a point that they were in desperate need to upgrade their brand identity. 

The Challenge

Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. 
R.M. Smythe needed a new recognizable identity that crossed cultural barriers, could stand out from a field of new companies entering the Numismatics industry and instantly connect with their target audiences, collectors and auction houses. Our designers started by examining imagery from historic currencies and looked at various fonts used during the Industrial Revolution when the company was established. We created a unique primary identifier that had both a historic and modern look. Bold, simple and clean to assure instant recognition, with the name spelled out in large letters dropped out of a black oval banner. The top of the banner holds an engraved symbol seen on many forms of early U.S. Currency.

The Solution

R.M. Smythe becomes the most recognizable brand in the Numismatics Industry.
The new logo was an instant success, bringing recognition to the company as the establish leader in the industry. Applications eventually extented to the web and an estensive collateral system. Everything from advertising to auction catalogs carried the new identity and brought increased value to the RM Smythe brand.