Art has been a staple adornment of coins for many years and it was only logical that one of the all-time greats, Gustav Klimt, would appear on them before long. Starting back in 2012, the Austrian Mint started producing a single, annual gold coin. Each piece in the five-coin series depicts an interpreted representation of one of the Austrian painter’s most famous works featuring women, usually from his ‘Golden Phase’. To say the series has been a critical success would be a huge understatement. Widely admired, the second coin has recently walked away with the overall 2015 Krause Coin of the Year award, and the latest coin, ‘Medicin’ is arguably the finest yet.

Others have noticed, and now the Mint of Poland has chosen one of the masters works, ‘Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer’ as the piece to kick off a new premium series titled “The Most Expensive Paintings in the World”. Given the work sold in New York for a simply staggering $135 million, we’d say it’s a fair choice. Produced in 2oz of fine silver, the square format is enhanced by having the rim struck to look like a classic frame instead of a standard rim. It’s a small detail, but effective, one that enhances the design tremendously, helped along by keeping all the annoying inscriptions on the obverse. The result is a clean look that takes nothing away from the original artwork.

This doesn’t appear to be a Klimt series, and as great works of art vary wildly in size and ratio, it’s unknown if all the coins will be square, or be adapted to better suit the work depicted. Hopefully the latter as we’re not sure how much appeal a Mona Lisa coin with the top of her head sliced off would be…

It comes packaged in our favourite display item, a black Nimbus-style floating frame. Coming in at around €175-200, the coin isn’t a cheap one, but with only 500 being minted, that’s understandable, and about $134,999,800 cheaper than the original.

GUSTAV KLIMT

Gustav Klimt was an Austrian symbolist painter, whose primary subject was the female body. His paintings, murals, and sketches are marked by a sensual eroticism, which is especially apparent in his pencil drawings. Klimt attended the Vienna University of Arts and Crafts in 1876, and formed the “Company of Artists” with his two brothers and a friend, after which he was awarded the Golden Order of Merit from the Emperor of Vienna. In 1892, his father and one of his brothers died, leaving him responsible for their families. The family tragedy also affected his artistic vision, which helped him develop his own personal style.

Throughout his life, although he was a controversial painter due to his subject matter, he was made an honorary member of the Universities of Vienna and of Munich. He was also a founding member and president of the Vienna Secession, which sought to create a platform for new and unconventional artists, bring new artists to Vienna, and created a magazine to showcase its member’ work.

Klimt lived a simple, cloistered life, in which he avoided other artists and café society. He often wore a long robe, sandals, and no undergarments. He also had many discreet affairs with women, and fathered at least 14 children. This may be an indication of his passion for women, their form and sexuality, which was the main focus of many of his works. The majority of his paintings were characterized by golden or colored swirling designs, spirals, and phallic shapes, depicting dominant women in erotic positions.

Klimt died in the influenza epidemic of 1918, leaving behind a posthumous legacy that few artists can rival. His paintings have brought in the highest amounts ever paid at auction.

Born: 14 July 1862; Baumgarten, Austria   Died: 06 February 1918; Vienna, Austria