We’re starting off with this beautiful design featuring one of nature’s truly unusual creatures, the Flying Fish. Not strictly capable of flying, they actually leap from the water at great speed, and then glide for up to 45 seconds, at heights of up to 6 metres, with distances reaching as much as 400 metres. They do so to evade predators, including the formidable swordfish and marlin. Isn’t it amazing how nature adapts to each new threat!

The reverse of the coin is simple enough, with the fish in the process of breaking the surface of the water. The star here is the stylised colouring, which does a fine job of imparting motion, and imitating the rainbow surface of the wings. The back fins are shown in shadow form, as if still submerged. A very attractive look. The obverse has an uncoloured view from below, but here the water surface is realised in a style reminiscent of Polynesian tribal artwork, like you would have on a tattoo. The title inscription done as seen from below, is a neat addition. Packaging is the usual latex-skin ‘floating’ frame inside a themed slipcover. We really like this one.

Born in 1852, Catalonian, Antoni Gaudí, is one of the most revered and individualistic architects in modern history. He morphed his passion for nature and religion into a unique style of architecture, one that has its ultimate expression in the sublime Sagrada Família cathedral in Barcelona. In fact, most of his work resides in the Catalan capital, and in this 100th year since his tragic death, the Mint of Poland is releasing another coin celebrating his work, following a 2022 issue.

This incredible architect’s finest work, now almost complete, is that Sagrada Familia cathedral, and having visited it about a decade ago, I can wholeheartedly recommend a visit, as it’s just breathtaking. There’s a wide view, and a close-up of the cathedral on the coin, with a coloured background reproducing what looks like some of his glass mosaics from Park Güell, on Carmel Hill. The coin is issued for Malta, a relatively new thing for the mint, and the coin packaging is very nicely themed to suit this incredible artist and architect.

One of the most recognisable of navigation aids is the Compass Rose. A simple enough thing, it’s basically a polar diagram with points showing the orientation of the cardinal directions. As well as being used on compasses, it’s also a regular on a whole variety of maps and charts, even including GPS systems.

The coin depiction is a classic ornate one, richly gilded over an antique finish, with a high-relief border and centre. The area between the two is filled with a translucent blue resin, allowing us to see the metal detailing underneath it. It’s all full of beautiful detailing, and the packaging is particularly well done.

The Lucky, or Beckoning Cat, called the Maneki-neko, grew from Japanese tradition, but has since expanded its influence across much of East Asia. It is associated with wealth and good fortune, wears a smile, and has a raised paw. According to legend, an ordinary cat once saved a samurai by beckoning him into a temple just moments before lightning struck the place where he had stood, and that story is told in a ComicBook style, with the panels running us through it from the initial appearance of the cat, to the thanks the Samurai gave for his saviour.

It’s a very esoteric look at the concept of the Maneki-Neko, and all the better for it, showing far greater originality than the usual image of the cat covered in gold and coins. It’s big for a one-ounce coin at 50.0 mm, and about the only negative is the basic obverse.

Key to this is a superb rendition of a perched owl, possibly a Horned Owl from its appearance here. In the background is a representation of our moon, signifying this incredible birds association with the night. There’s also a geometric pattern across both faces of the coin, which the mint suggests is about the owl’s intelligence, focus, and wisdom. Importantly, it isn’t detractive to the finished design, ad is actually integrated with some subtlety, hinting at foliage, perhaps.

The owl itself is the stand-out here, with plenty of high-relief, which explains the relatively small 32 mm diameter of the coin. The colouring imitates the glow of the moon, and techniques like micro-printing and frosting are employed to create contrast.

A new series of one-ounce silver coins that will feature flowers and their association with the four seasons launches with this pretty Magnolia coin. The mint is linking this with Spring, and who are we to argue… The reverse face is clean and unencumbered with superfluous borders or inscriptions, with the end result very much a nature coin. The only gimmick is the use of photochromic colour, which will change as you move the viewing angle of it.

The obverse is richly designed with branches and leaves, and we suspect this will be a common one to future issues in this collection. The packaging is equally attractive, and overall, a fine example of the genre. The next coin will be Summer, and you can see more about this collection of the Mint of Poland’s special website.