Numiscollect have added new issues to two of their one-ounce silver coin series, both of which feature on some of the great figures in world history. One of them, Science Explained, has a focus on scientific achievements, and the latest addition has Alexander Fleming, joining Isaac Newton and Pythagoras on previous releases. The second series is called Behind the Masterpiece, and it has an artistic leaning. Here, Leonardo da Vinci is the second coin, following Mozart.

Alexander Fleming was a Scottish physician famed for his work in the field of microbiology, winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945. He won it for the discovery of penicillin, the first antibiotic (bacteria killing) substance ever discovered, alongside Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, both of whom aided Fleming in making it a practical drug. It’s almost impossible to overstate the importance of the discovery, and despite the creation of many more antibiotics today, penicillin remains an important part of the war on disease. Fleming died in 1955.

The coin depicts a fine portrait of Fleming in his lab coat, and holding a petri dish filled with a culture. The background is filled with a mix of a molecular formula, and the tools of his trade. The circular pattern there works well with the inscriptions, and it’s an excellent encapsulation of this pioneer’s work. The obverse is the common one to the series, with its wide border filled with scientific notation. The coin comes boxed with a COA, and just 199 will be struck.

The ‘Behind the Masterpiece’ series concentrates on the artistic side of some of the great figures in history. Despite that, the polymath Leonardo da Vinci has such an expansive mind that some of his inventions have also made the coin. Following from the Mozart design, this one follows the same design path with an impressive figure of the renowned genius occupying around half of the reverse face. We’ve covered the mans achievements many times before, so I won’t rehash it yet again.

The negative space to his left is filled with simplified imagery showcasing some of his most famous works, including the Vitruvian Man, some of his flight inventions, and most importantly in the context of this series, the Mona Lisa. The obverse has a wide border filled with a repeating pattern of glyphs symbolising the many different forms of art. This is a common one for the series. This neat coin comes boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity, and the mintage is capped at a tiny 199 pieces.