A series of fifth-ounce gold coins celebrating the history of women in Italian art, this €20 issue spotlights the work of Artemisia Gentileschi, a 17th century Baroque painter now considered one of the best of her generation. A self portrait is reproduced on one face of the coin and a detail from one of her more famous works on the reverse. Neat enough for art fans, it’s available now for €315.00 and just 1,200 pieces will be struck.

MINTS DESCRIPTION: Through the works of Artemisia Gentileschi an extraordinary journey unfolds into the Baroque art of the 17th century: the artist’s original and sublime painting technique combines the experience of her contemporaries with that of the old masters. An amazing artist and a woman of temperament, an icon of women  struggling for their talent to be recognized, Artemisia tells the story of courageous and determined women and enchants with the use of colours, light effects and shadows reminiscent of Caravaggio.

REVERSE: detail from the painting “Judith and her maid with the head of Holofernes” (Palatine Gallery, Palazzo Pitti, Florence). Above, the inscription “DONNE  NELL’ARTE” and “ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI”; on the right, “R”, identifying the Mint of Rome; in exergue, the value “20 EURO” and the year of issue “2018.

OBVERSE: detail from the self-portrait of Artemisia Gentileschi as a woman playing a lute and wearing a turban (Wadsworth Atheneum Museum at Hartford, United States). Around, the inscription “REPUBBLICA ITALIANA” and decorative elements; lower right, in the painting reproduced, the name of the designer “CASSOL”.