A quiet, extra release from Coin Invest Trust sees a new addition to its fledgling Quilling series of proof silver coins. The first in this new series debuted just last year with one depicting a pair of quilled flowers. This year its back with a jump from flora to fauna, featuring a bird at rest on a branch.

Quilling, also called paper filigree, is a craft art in which strips of paper are rolled, shaped, and glued together to form artistic designs. During the Renaissance, book covers and religious objects were decorated using quilling, undertaken by French and Italian nuns and monks. It became a popular pastime amongst “gentle ladies of quality” in the 18th century and was thought to be something they could do that wasn’t too taxing for “their minds or gentle dispositions”. These days it’s apparently popular, with several websites and print magazines dedicated to the craft, no doubt bumped up by a general increase in the popularity of craft making in general.

The coin itself is again clean struck with some nice background design to the border and the setting for the bird. Unnoticed last year was the quirk in the specifications that has become far more important of late. At just half an ounce of fine silver in weight, the coin again reaches an astounding 50mm in diameter. Last years coin was one which CIT used to refine the process of smartminting, a technique which allows impressive levels of relief on remarkably thin coins. It wasn’t highlighted at the time, but it is now, with CIT making full claim for its groundbreaking process.

This new coin doesn’t push high-relief, preferring to maintain normal levels, but on a relatively huge diameter, making a large canvas on which to employ the quilling art. The design is pretty cool one all told. I can’t claim to understand or appreciate the art, but I can’t imagine anyone into quilling wouldn’t appreciate the design or quality of this, especially on such a small and unusual canvas as a silver disc. The first coin sold out at CIT in pretty short order, so the market obviously likes these. The design on this one probably has more universal appeal than last years, so don’t be surprised if this one sells out as well. Price seems to be around the €90 mark and it comes in a decorated wooden box with a Certificate of Authenticity. Available to order now, it isn’t due to ship until the end of January 2017.

Quilling is an art form, where paper strips are skillfully rolled, formed and glued to create wonderful, vibrant images. This skill first became popular in the 16th and 17th century when French and Italian nuns and Monks created ornaments for religious books and artifacts.

The second issue of the Quilling Art series features a handmade tri-coloured bird perched on a tree branch. Thanks to smartminting© technology, the half ounce silver coin measures an incredible 50 mm in Diameter and is once again limited to 999 pieces.