Powercoin’s striking Revolutionary Masks series draws on the weird appeal of Salvador Dali

REVERSEOBVERSE

Quite an unusual subject for a coin series, Revolutionary Masks launched two years ago with a very cool Guido Fawkes issue. Depicting a modern day activist wearing one of the masks made popular in the movie V for Vendetta, and later taken up by the hacktivist group Anonymous, it employed a selective porcelain-effect coating. Last year saw the release of a second coin, but this time taking the mask back in history to the time of Guy Fawkes.

We weren’t sure where the series would head next, but we’re impressed with the choice. It looks like we’ll be seeing masks styled around controversial or revolutionary figures, and we’re starting with Salvador Dali. Born on 11 May 1904, Dali joined a drawing school in his youth and quickly found a passion for art. Spending his time moving from film, painting, sculpture and photography, Dali soon developed a style of his own. He is especially known for his surrealism and his increasingly bizarre behaviour.

He has been heavily criticised for his views and political leanings. The great writer, George Orwell, while reviewing Dalí’s autobiography in 1944, wrote “One ought to be able to hold in one’s head simultaneously the two facts that Dalí is a good draughtsman and a disgusting human being”. He loved the good life and seemed to take pleasure in shocking people – something that often overshadowed his art. He died on 23 January 1989.

The coin is quite superb, in our view. Sticking with the one-ounce silver format, this one depicts a wide-eyed Dali mask in a hoodie, against a brick wall. In a break from previous years, the coin is gilded with red gold. A high-relief strike using CIT’s outstanding SmartMinting process, it’s a brilliant design and something quite unique. The mintage is capped at 999 pieces, and the coin comes boxed with a certificate of authenticity. It is available to order now and sells for around €120.00.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $5 CID (Cook Islands)
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver 31.1 grams
DIMENSIONS 38.61 mm
FINISH Proof
MINTAGE 999
BOX / COA Yes / Yes