The Mint of Poland has once again immortalised the work of prominent Polish artist Zdzislaw Beksinski on its coins. "Ballerina" is the second of five coins of the first series, commemorating the artist's outstanding works in pure silver — the mintage of 700 copies of the collector's coin sold out in less than 28 hours. The Mint of Poland is the only one in the world to have exclusive rights to mint coins with reproductions of Zdzislaw Beksinski's works, in close cooperation with the Historical Museum in Sanok. The silver coins with the paintings, known and admired in Poland and worldwide, are a unique tribute to the extraordinary artist and his work. Three series of coins are ultimately planned, with five subjects in each.

A unique series commemorating the timeless works of Beksinski

The Mint of Poland's exclusive limited series of collector coins is a tribute to the artistic achievements of Zdzislaw Beksinski. In February this year, the premiere of the "Character" coin, the first item in the first series of coins, attracted great interest and sales of all 700 minted pieces. The "Ballerina" coin, as a reproduction of another of the artist's greatest works, went on sale on June 25. The high interest in the series with Beksinski's works was reflected in the sale of the entire mintage of the coin in just 28 hours after its release.

"Ballerina" was created in 1969 and comes from the key period of Zdzislaw Beksinski's creative activity. The coin, which is a reproduction of the work, takes us into the world of the artist's surrealism, his unparalleled painting imagination, expression and unique technique. It combines the mystery and high workshop of the artist with modern technology and the highest quality of production of the Mint of Poland. To faithfully reflect the finest details of the painter's works presented in an unprecedented way, the Mint of Poland used digital printing and microprinting.

 - The development of a limited collection of coins, which are reproductions of the works of the outstanding Zdzislaw Beksinski, has been an incredible adventure and responsibility for our Team. The reproduction in silver of the works of one of the greatest Polish artists of the 20th century required us to use advanced technologies and apply our many years of know-how in the implementation of non-standard minting projects. Thanks to our close cooperation with the Historical Museum in Sanok, we have created a small silver work, which is a collector's reproduction of Beksinski's great work, " Ballerina". We are proud to be the only company in the world to have the honour of producing coins with reproductions of the creator's works, which shows that there are no impossible projects for us to carry out – said Katarzyna Budnicka-Filipiuk, President of the Management Board of the Mint of Poland.

A collaboration in tribute to a world-class artist

Zdzislaw Beksinski (1929-2005) was one of Poland's most extraordinary artists. Although he became famous primarily for his abstract, dark and imagination-stirring paintings, he was also a photographer, architect, sculptor and painter. The world's largest exhibition, with some 600 works by Zdzislaw Beksinski, is located at the Historical Museum in Sanok, Beksinski's hometown. The collection of coins with reproductions of Beksinski's works was created in close cooperation with the museum, the sole copyright holder and host of the gallery named after Zdzislaw Beksinski.

- The most important of Zdzislaw Beksinski's disciplines, figurative painting, has for sixty years invariably fascinated successive generations of viewers who instinctively perceive the deep and authentic inner drama that found an outlet in the artist's paintings. It was particularly expressed in various deformations of the human body, its mutilation and disfigurement. In these works, not free from the element of pastiche, Beksinski saw a form of internal self-portrait. A kind of harbinger of such painting, particularly popular in the last decades of the artist's life, is the ballerina treated in this way - an early painting from the collection of the Historical Museum in Sanok - included in the beautiful series of collector coins issued in tribute to the Master by the Mint of Poland.  - said Jarosław Serafin, Director of the Historical Museum in Sanok.

The Mint of Poland's rich know-how, the implementation of advanced technology and the Museum Team's outstanding knowledge of Beksinski's work have made it possible to create unique coin collections. This year, the first three coins will be presented, and two more will appear the following year. The first coin in the series, "Character," has already sold out. In addition to "Ballerina," the first series will include: "Cathedral," "Tramway" and "Hamlet." The mintage of each of these small works of art is limited to only 700 copies.

The Mint of Poland has dedicated a special page to reproductions of the artist's works enchanted in coins. More at: www.beksinski.mennica.com.pl.