John Collier’s ‘Lady Godiva’ joins Precious Metal Collector’s epic range of giant copper-cored silver coins

The latest in Precious Metal Collector’s huge ‘Bi-Metal Max’ range of copper-cored art coins is now available to order, and features John Collier’s well known ‘Lady Godiva’ as its subject. For those unfamiliar, ‘Bi-Metal Max’ is a process whereby a silver skin is wrapped around a centre mass of copper. This results in a coin that looks no different from a fully silver one, but is far cheaper. In this particular case, just two-ounces of silver, used as a skin for around fifteen times as much copper, results in a coin of a huge 145 x 110 mm in size, which is thick as well, yet retails for around €400.

For the fine-art aficionado, these are superb coins. The size allows for a detailed reproduction of the original painting, complete with the texture usually missing from coloured coins of usual dimensions. This is the fifth direct reproduction of a painting produced in this format (plus one inspired by Shan Shui art), but only the second to include a gilded frame struck into the design, It looks well done, although we preferred them without.

The obverse, also for the second time, includes a banknote-style mix of a painting snippet, portrait of the artist, and issue details, also with a gilded frame. The coin is issued for the African state, the Republic of Chad. We’ve seen a couple of the earlier, antique-finished ones of these, and they’re quite superb. The presentation is very well done, and the item as a whole is perfect for the art lover. Like the original art, whether this particular issue is appealing is a matter of taste. We suspect the 888 mintage will find plenty of happy buyers. Available to order now.

LADY GODIVA

Wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, Lady Godiva became an icon because of the legend that she rode naked on horseback through the streets of Coventry. With her modesty only maintained through the judicious placement of her long flowing hair, she rode her horse to get remission from the oppressive taxes her husband had placed upon his tenants. She was an actual historical figure, although the tale of the ride appeared over two centuries later and is not considered truth.

Lady Godiva has obviously inspired many a piece of art, including literature and paintings, but the example chosen for the second in Numiartis series of coins is that by late 19th/early 20th century artist John Maler Collier OBE. An artist accomplished in the Pre-Raphaelite style, he produced a variety of works, including portraits of the Duke of York and the Prince of Wales, both later to be kings, Rudyard Kipling, Field Marshall Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, Charles Darwin, Professor Huxley, and the Maharajah of Nepal. Lady Godiva is one of his most popular works.