2016-11-30 Wed

Spain issued a new set of coins under the series “Treasures of the Spanish Museums”. This 4th collection consists of three silver coins and one gold coin. 12 famous paintings of Jheronimus van Aken (c. 140–1516), or “El Bosco” or Jheronimus Bosch, many of which are displayed at Spain’s various national museums are featured on the new coins to observe the 500th death anniversary of the great painter.

The silver coins depict the painting named Garden of Earthly Delights, which was probably painted between 1500 and 1505. The originally three-panelled painting is one of his finest works. The paintings showcase socially engaged nude figures, strange animals, huge fruit, and hybrid stone formation; the Garden of Eden and the Last Judgment are depicted on the side panels.

The silver coins in this set consist of a square €50 central coin and two rectangular €25 coins. Spain had never issued pure .999 silver coins or rectangular coins before. The three coin pieces put together forms the complete masterpiece.

The gold €400 coin depicts a painting named The Hay Wain and The Temptations of San Antonio Abad. The Hay Wain illustrates that man always wants to enjoy and become wealthy. He is willing to be seduced by the Devil for accomplishing his desires. The reverse depicts the painting named The Temptations of San Antonio Abad, painted around 1490.

The first €25 coin’s obverse depicts the paradise of the Garden of Eden with the Tree of Life (an exotic dragon tree), the Tree of Good and Evil and the serpent coiled around it.

A painting called Earthly delights is featured on the central panel of the €50 coin. The third (€25) panel’s obverse depicts the Hell or “musical Hell”. The reverse features the denomination and year of issue, along with part of the image on the obverse.

The mintage limit of both the €25 .999 silver 67.5 g Proof & coloured coin, the €50 .999 silver 135 g Proof & coloured coin and the €400 .999 gold 27 g Proof coin is all the same – 2000 pieces each.