The series that started it all, and showed the potential of the whole genre, Great Micromosaic Passion debuted in 2017. The 65 mm diameter makes good use of the three ounces of silver, and the employment of the proprietary CIT/BHM Smartminting technology, means that the detail and relief doesn’t suffer as a result. The strike is a simple one in theory, just a pattern of grooves replicating the look of mosaic tiles, but the definition, size and number of them looks quite extraordinary. The quality and variation in shading, as well as the meticulous application of different shades on individual ’tiles’ is quite sublime.

While most of the five core issues are based on the most famous masterpieces, Powercoin have hinted at a more imaginative choice of subject with the pretty Art Deco, 1929 ‘Young Girl in Green’, by Polish painter Tempera de Lempicka, an artist with a striking and visually unique style. The final coin was a special, struck in five ounces, that incorporated the female subjects of the five three-ounce issues. Each coin is presented in a mosaic tile-shaped box with a Certificate of Authenticity, and the coin edge carries an engraved serial number.

With Great Micromosaic Passion proving so popular, but the series having ended, it was little surprise that it would be back, but the producer has taken the opportunity for some upgrades. The changes from the first series mainly revolve around two things. Firstly, there’s a layering, created using high-relief, and secondly, part of the design is not ‘mosaiced’ and kept clean of the process. Both things have the potential to spoil the effect so carefully crafted with the first series, but we have to say, on this evidence, that any fears are unfounded. The coin is vibrant, with a stunningly rich and finely applied colour application running from edge to edge. The mosaic patterning is impeccable.

The obverse continues the theming with a mosaic texture, including using it to form the wording, which is a little less successful, but still okay. The star is that quirky, expertly realised reverse face, for sure. The coin is boxed (a new style), with a Certificate of Authenticity, and the serial number is also engraved on the coin edge. An outstanding first issue.

Launched in 2019 after the success of its earlier mosaic sibling, Micromosaic Passion, Micropuzzle Treasures took the concept and created something a bit more playful with it. Rather than mosaic tiles, the smartminted texturing is used to form faux jigsaw pieces. To enhance the effect, a small portion of the image is left unfinished, with the missing pieces scattered over the rest of the coin. A terrific idea, adding a little complexity where there would be little otherwise, given the jigsaw doesn’t specifically interact with the image in the way the mosaic does.

The series started off on familiar ground, but soon headed off into the more esoteric ends of the fine art market, and we love the series for that alone. Reverie by Mucha, and DoniTondo by Michaelangelo, are two pieces we rarely see on coins, but ‘Couple under one umbrella’ by Leonid Afremov, a Belarusian artist, is thoroughly unique. We described it in our article as ‘a glorious riot of colour, completely different to the old renaissance works’. A personal favourite, so much so that I used it for this profiles featured image (although I’m pleased with the image composition we did).

The special in this case was also a five-ounce coin, but went with the ultra-iconic Creation of Adam, by the legendary Michelangelo, rather than a mix of the five smaller coins – sensible given we’d have no idea how to make that work. This one came in a clever box, while the smaller ones were boxed similarly to series 2 of the mosaic coins.

We feel the mosaic series used the technique of texturing most impressively, particularly in Series II form, because that texture has to flow with the subject, and the more effort expended on getting that right, directly translated into a better coin. With embroidery, that becomes ever more complicated. If you want it to look realistic, you can’t just splash a textile texture over a coin and call it complete, it requires more care when merging it with the source artwork.

Newly launched, the subject for the first 3 oz coin is Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss, whose style lends itself to being broken down into small areas, thus allowing a different type of embroidery texture applied to each one. The threaded needle, and the background loom are very cool little touches, as is the embroidered date to the left. It’s all very well realised, with every element carefully brought to life. The obverse continues the theme, with the loom texture reappearing, and neat touches like the needle from the reverse showing through, as if it’s passed through the coin, and the series title done with thread, but reversed, as if it was showing through from the front.

The packaging is a more traditional latex-skinned frame, and there’s a rim for the first time, but it looks to be a worthy continuation of the whole concept.