December 20, 2018 – The A. G. Leventis Gallery in Nicosia (Cyprus) is presenting selected pieces from the outstanding collection of rare gold coins once owned by the founder, Anastasios G. Leventis, to the public – in a first display of this hitherto unknown and unpublished collection. This temporary exhibition will run until 11 February 2019.
George II (1727-1760), London, 1729, Five Guineas, w. 41.8 g, diam. 37 mm.
The A. G. Leventis Gold Coins Collection includes several and rare specimens of special interest both for collectors and scholars and this exhibition aims not only at introducing the collection to the academic community and the general public, but also wishes to provide an opportunity for visitors to explore several pieces that are considered landmarks in the history of world coinage.
Victoria (1837-1901), London, 1887, Five Pounds, w. 39.9 g, diam. 36 mm.
The curatorial team has envisaged an exhibition that will place 12 coins – dating from Alexander the Great, to the Byzantine, the Mediaeval and then the early Modern world – against selected exhibits from the broader history of art that will allow viewers to appreciate the broader socio-historic context that is intimately linked to numismatic history. Through this approach, captivating narratives and important historical events, the realm of great kings and empires, international politics, finance and trade will bring the coin iconography and the complex world of numismatics to life – while new technologies will allow us to engage, particularly young visitors, into exploring further aspects of numismatic history.
Anastasius I (491-518), Constantinople, 491-498, Solidus, w. 4.45 g, diam. 20 mm.
The exhibition thus brings important works of art to Nicosia, from leading Museums of the United Kingdom, France, Greece and Austria – from royal portraits to personal objects once belonging to the figureheads of history a wealth of material including paintings, prints and drawings hoping to bring the coins to life.
A publication, in Greek and English, accompanies this exhibition, which will be available at the A. G. Leventis Gallery Shop.
For more information on the exhibition go to the gallery’s website.