Gustav Klimt’s legendary masterpiece ‘The Kiss’, becomes a jigsaw puzzle on Numiartis’ latest coin
Gustav Klimt has seen a huge resurgence in the popularity of his work since becoming persona non grata in the middle of the 20th century. As the person making Klimts work socially unacceptable was Adolf Hitler, we can safely assume the problem wasn’t the artwork… The last few years has also seen a fine selection of coins bearing this legendary artists exquisite work, including an award-winning gold series from the Austrian Mint, and now Numiartis are adding an unusual piece to the mix.
Similar in concept to Powercoins recent Micropuzzle Treasures coin, this new release breaks up the original artwork into jigsaw puzzle pieces, in the case 340 of them. We’re not talking separate pieces of course, just struck to look like it. The main reverse face of the coin is beautifully coloured to do full justice to Klimt’s blingy original, and there’s a small portion of eleven pieces left missing, making it doubly obvious what is being depicted here. The series title, ‘So Puzzle Art’, is inscribed in the space.
The obverse is quite clever as it’s struck to show the back of the puzzle pieces and the artwork, with the issue details placed across a pattern of them. In a nice touch, the missing patch from the coloured face is reproduced here and is also coloured. The name of the artwork and the national shield of Cameroon are also present here, helping to keep the reverse face free of excessive distraction.
The coin is three ounces of fine silver in weight, rimless and antique finished. These renders hint at a great level of detail and hopefully, we’ll have some images of the finished article in a couple of weeks time. Obviously, the coin will be boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity, and only 340 pieces will be minted – the same amount as the number of pieces that make up the jigsaw.
THE KISS by Gustav Klimt
The Kiss (in German Liebespaar, Lovers) is an oil painting, with added silver and gold leaf by the Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt, and was painted between 1907 and 1908 during the height of Klimt’s “Golden Period”. The painting depicts a couple embracing one another, their bodies entwined in elaborate robes decorated in a style influenced by the contemporary Art Nouveau style and the organic forms of the earlier Arts and Crafts movement. The painting hangs in the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere museum in the Belvedere palace, Vienna, and is widely considered a masterpiece of the early modern period. It is an icon of the Jugendstil—Viennese Art Nouveau—and is considered Klimt’s most popular work.
Love, intimacy, and sexuality are common themes found in Gustav Klimt’s works. The Stoclet Frieze and the Beethoven Frieze are such examples of Klimt’s focus on romantic intimacy. Both works are precursors to The Kiss and feature the recurring motif of an embracing couple.
It is thought that Klimt and his companion Emilie Flöge modeled for the work, but there is no evidence or record to prove this. Others suggest the female was the model known as ‘Red Hilda’; she bears strong resemblance to the model in his Woman with feather boa, Goldfish and Danaë.
| SPECIFICATION | |
| DENOMINATION | 3,000 Francs CFA (Cameroon) |
| COMPOSITION | 0.999 silver |
| WEIGHT | 93.3 grams |
| DIMENSIONS | 65.0 mm |
| FINISH | Antique |
| MODIFICATIONS | Colour |
| MINTAGE | 340 |
| BOX / C.O.A. | Yes / Yes |
Doesn’t quite meet the standard of the starry night or the the lady mosaics. They had to mimic the painting of the starry night? Really? So now we have another mint trying to destroy something good like the Poland mint stuff (18 gazillion gods and goddesses and look likes). Numiartists really need learn how to think outside the box! There are a thousand other themes and they decide to imitate paintings – really? Get a life numiartis!
Dear Bob,
we started this project End of 2018.
Complicated and high technological coins need a lots of time to be good prepared and launched..
It‘s nothing unusual that two people could have same idea, but always someone ist faster 🙂
We are sending you a lots of love, which also we put always in our coins
Thanks Sandra (?), but let’s be honest. You saw the success of what Power Coin created, and you wanted to jump on the bandwagon. I know, I know, this is a capitalistic world in which we live, plus, competition helps keep prices in check…BUT, you knew PC had this technology locked and loaded with CIT. Why didn’t you stick with the current 18 million versions of gods and goddesses that you and your comrades (along others) already destroyed via the Poland mint. This god, that god, this goddess, this goddess on a chariot, this chariot carrying 3 gods, seriously!! I mean, and now you’re going to drown the market with a piece like this? Come on! You and I both know, you didn’t need to enter this space, but the eyes of greed said, whoa, maybe we can get on this train.’ How about you create your own train (and the Poland Mint too)!! Thanks. And No, I don’t work for PC. I wish I did! I’m a collector of these mosaic pieces, and to see you come into the market with a piece like this doesn’t give me the warm and fuzzies of hugs and kisses. What next? Lady Paintings mosaics? Venus, Mona, Girl, etc…?? And then when they do something else, you’ll mimic that too?
Higher technology,more creativity,and design on both sides.
This is what I want. I really like the design of this coin.
The silver coin market needs competitors very much,which can make the market more high-end and more people participate .
Good coin and we will get it .Well done !!
@tony. ‘Higher technology’ – now that made me laugh. You need to do a bit more study on the Poland Mint tech vs. the CIT tech. There’s no comparison.i suggest you do a side by side comparison between the two. It’s not even close!! The Starry Night puzzle has 3 levels on the same side with pieces on top, sharper edges and a higher precision on the digital coloration. Did the poland mint paint the Gustav piece like they did the gold details in Gods series? Come on man, no comparison in tech between CIT and Poland Mint!! I’m all for competition, but maybe they should have stuck with creating yet another god series with puzzles and not destroy this genre, like they did the goddesses and gods with their 10,000 variations!!
Bob , Thank you for your professional analysis.I am also a super fan of Starry Night Puzzle coin.I also own that coin some pieces.I think it is very nice coin.
‘The Kiss’ is also a good work , it is worth collecting to appreciate , I believe that there will be more beautiful puzzle coins in the future , we will all look like treasures .
Thank you for your suggestions , I believe that the currency dealers will hear our suggestions.
Good Luck.
Hi Tony, I’m sorry if my frustration shows. Maybe the Poland mint’s version will help bring even attention the beautiful mosaic pieces that began with the lady and then the Starry night…with others from CIT to follow. I just don’t want to see the same thing play out here as in the gods and goddesses genre. I sold every piece I owned the Poland Mint when I saw issue after issue popping out, primarily from the same theme, and each has their own series, and I was getting confused (I’m certain Sandra from Numisartis would concur!!). I finally bailed on them. It was sad to see this kind of greed play out before our eyes (my feelings only). I don’t want that to happen with this genre. If it does, I’ll sell all and focus my attention elsewhere…thanks sir. I do collect puzzles and mosaics, and I won’t be collecting the Gustav piece. However, if the intro price is 200.00, I’ll flip the crap out of it and hopefully the hype will convert it to 600/700, and I’ll make a few bucks to buy the next in line for the lady mosaic and puzzles from PC. But if intro’d at 450.00 or higher….nah.
Dear Bob, on behalf of our Partner Powercoin and the CIT Team it is always a pleasure to find real fans like you who appreciate the work we all do to create such beautiful products. In case you visit World Money Fair in Berlin i would be happy to welcome you on the CIT booth to discover smartminting© reloaded , the next big thing in minting technology which CIT will release there. Be sure our Partners like Powercoin will leverage this advantage soon too. Best regards Falk
Bob, How do you really feel – it`s not clear(lol)? I must say that I agree w/your comments & the timing certainly made it feel like a piggyback onto Powercoins’s Micomosaic & Micropuzzle issues(which I absolutely love). However,that being said,Numiartis has certainly issued many beautiful & creative coins in its own right,such as Ares,Poseidon & the Mythical Creatures ongoing series,all of which I love & are truly great pieces. Collectors will have to decide & I`m guessing that collectors(not investors) will like both.
@falk, thanks so much for your kind offer. I wish I were attending the WMF in Berlin, I would love to stop by and meet the team and see all the great technological advancements you’re making in the wonderful world of coin collecting. You have done a splendid job with so many pieces, and 2 of my favorites happen to be the puzzle and the mosaics. Wow, wow. And I can’t wait to hold the girl with earring and the starry night in hand. Hopefully one day you’ll make your way to the states, and I’ll have the opportunity to meet you and team. I look forward to it.
@Harry P. Yeah, I’m sorry for my frustration. I agree that some of the Poland Mint pieces look nice, but it shouldn’t give them license to continue to make little nuances to the same theme, and call it by a different name.They effectively killed the gods/goddesses market. I’m NOT the only one who feels this way. Many collectors AND dealers have expressed the same disappointment…I think the author of this ga awesome site has expressed the same sentiment. Just because a you have a couple of big hits, it doesn’t mean you should continue to design and mint 100 different variants of the same theme, to squeeze the golden goose. There are other themes and other series that can be created. I was waiting for the Poland mint to create a god pooping – maybe it’s coming? I mean seriously. They absolutely killed the golden goose, IMHO. I could be wrong, but let’s see. And another point to add, it seems with some of them, the quality was decreasing not increasing, and then it became confusing to understand which god, goddess fit under what series. No thanks. I cashed out. God, I hope the Poland Mint fails at this puzzle piece. I’m sorry Harry, but I’m just being honest and transparent. I’m not getting anything from PC or CIT by saying this, but I don’t want them to ruin a good thing with an inferior product; AND knowing them, they’ll produce 100 different paintings, if popular, because thems guys are some greedy dudes. Sorry Poland Mint. Just stating what I observe to be true. I’d be happy to chat with you on the phone about what you’re doing wrong. But please don’t ruin this new genre. Harry, I’m glad you like this piece – I am. I don’t like it, and I hope it flops. Always nice to chat.
Hey Bob, I agree w/you. Too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing. And, of course, the exclusivity is destroyed & the wow effect is lost. I consider myself a collector and not an investor, but it is nice to know that you’re collecting something limited & of value, for sure. Otherwise, they’re worthless pretty baubles.
Funny. What and who will be next? Let me guess – Mint 21? With ‘Tetris style’ coin? Vitruvian Man?
I feel next one or two years collectors will receive a lot of these coins, and it hopefully will reduce the prices.
And then will finally come new nice idea…
This is why I hope and I want it will not success, sorry, but I prefer new styles and ideas.
I like(d) Mint of Poland coins. But enough,
I’m dissapointed and agree with Bob – too much series.
And another important thing for me – UNCOMPLETED series.
Instead of completing existing series – the new appears. Warriors, Chinese warriors, Women warriors… What is next? Children warriors? Animal warriors?
And what about Gods of Olympus (with red gold-plating)? There are only 2? Titans? Ended with Cronus?
Roman Gods Jupiter released in 2016, Bellona in 2019. Who will complete these series? My children or my grandchildren?
How many monarchs we will see on obverse of one single series?
My conclusion for my next purchases – buy the first one-two series from the ‘great-new-idea-and-style’ and stop. The rest will be grabbing money, usually in poor quality.
Superjeka, You’re definitely onto something there w/your last comment!
Superjeka. You are 1000% spot on. And I hope to God the folks from the mints are reading these insightful responses…because if they can’t meet the need of the collector, why even do this? Too make a buck and stick pipe up the ‘kiesta’ (arse) of the collector? It drives me absolutely bonkers that most of them don’t have the kahunas to say, here is a series, and it will be 5 pieces in total! And this is how long we suspect it will take to complete the series. The only folks to my knowledge who have done this, and have stuck with the plan? The HUGE biblical series from the Scottsdale mint and they have not veered in the least!! 30 coins, 5 years done and 30 more and 5 years to go (yay, Scottsdale Mint)!! I applaud them. The rest of them? They’re lacking something. Not sure what. The balls? The courage? Is it greed? Is it fear? They want to see if it’s popular, and if it’s not, they stop after 2 and if it is popular, they never declare an end, because they’re so damn greedy? We say enough already! Thankfully Power Coin/CIT have listened to our voices. There will only be 5 pieces of the ladies. Not sure about the puzzle pieces. They need to step it up and say, let us know UP FRONT, this is what we are doing and this is how many we are doing. If it’s wildly popular, fantastic – then call the second 5, the famous lady paintings series 2. If not, then at least there is one damn complete set that collectors can focus on. The Poland Mint sure did know how to strangle and kill the golden goose and we are the voice that confirms it!! Enough already!! The voices have spoken.
and yet another, https://thecoinshoppe.ca/product/templars-treasure-2020-2-oz-antiqued-pure-silver-coin-sealing-wax-cameroon-mint-poland/ Lol. and another. I wouldn’t pay more than $5.00 over spot for this thing… https://thecoinshoppe.ca/product/mayan-holcan-warriors-2020-2-oz-pure-ultra-high-relief-silver-coin-antique-finish-selective-gold-plating-niue-mint-poland/
I mean, good night Irene…they’re on a roll. LMAO.
Okay, plenty of views on both sides, but I think this one has run its course.