The Mint of Poland’s long-running ‘Treasures of World Painting’ series of silver coin travels to a darker place with ‘Dark Edition’. The series of square coins reproduces famous works of art, not just the iconic ones, but some of the more esoteric ones as well. Dark Edition kicks off with esoteric, and a piece of art that certainly fits the theme.

Titled ‘Self-Portrait with Death Playing the Fiddle’, the 1872 work depicts the artist, Arnold Böcklin, a Swiss symbolist painter working, while Death plays a fiddle right behind him. In retrospect, I guess the painting title makes that patently obvious… It’s an amazing work of art, creepy and powerful. The coin cuts off the bottom of the original work, which has Böcklin holding a paint palette, but little of the essence of the work is missing. A frame is formed in silver as part of the strike, and it has a suitable black proof finish.

The coin is presented in a latex-skin floating frame, inside a themed slipcover, and has a mintage of 999 pieces. A fine twist on a series that has seen dozens of issues over the last few years, so one that’s obviously very popular. Available to order now.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION DIMENSIONS FINISH MINTAGE
1,000 Francs CFA (Cameroon) 31.1 g of 0.999 silver 40.0 x 40.0 mm Black proof, Colour 999