Another work from the artist Laimutė Varkalaitė, responsible for the superb World of Cryptids range, Pastel Circus is just as quirky, perhaps even more so. This is a four-coin series, following different incarnations of the red-nosed clown, all of them hinting at a symbolic transformation into a bird. Like we said, quirky…

This third issue is called ‘Balancing’, and depicts the ‘Juggler Clown’ performing multiple feats of balance while performing tricks. The full description by the mint is as weird and nebulous as the coin, but for us, it’s all about the design, and it’s another cracking piece. Varkalaitė has a fertile imagination, and an obvious talent for artistic flair, which we think is fully on display with this series. The obverse is a common one, so no changes on that front.

A two-ounce coin with a 500 mintage, this is a fine alternative to the usual mythology themed release, showcasing something truly unique, not just in concept, but also in realisation. The last in the series (Becoming) is coming next month, and with the end of World of Cryptids, seems to be the last of this artist’s issues that we know about at present. Hopefully, we’ll see more of their work as the year progresses. Available now.