Description
Lithuanian Mint introduces the first coin from the new “Reading Challenge” series “memento mori” edition – “The Picture of Dorian Gray”. This striking new coin is dedicated to one of Oscar Wilde’s most famous literary works – the dramatic and slightly macabre story of Dorian Gray.
The coin was designed by the talented London-based artist Adam Spizak. Inspired by his favourite science fiction, horror and video games, he often combines various pop culture elements with surreal, gothic-inspired 3D art. The author, who became interested in computer graphics in 1996, has been working in this field for more than 25 years. During his career, he has collaborated with a number of well-known names in the fields of art, film and video games. Adam Spizak has worked with such giants as Disney, Grammy, Adobe, Playboy and Hasbro.
In the creation of the “The Picture of Dorian Gray” coin, the artist paid meticulous attention to Dorian’s facial features and expressions, in order to capture the nuances of the personality portrayed in Oscar Wilde’s novel. Throughout the creative process, Adam Spizak relied on specific moments and themes in the story to accurately reflect it.
This special 5 dollars collector coin is made of antique finish silver and decorated with gilt elements. The reverse of the coin, which depicts Dorian Gray, the protagonist of the story, shows cleverly woven references to the novel’s distinctive elements, conveying the weight of the character’s experiences and the hidden aspects of the story. If you look closely at the coin, you will see a poppy flower on the lapel of Dorian’s jacket, symbolising his addiction to opium. A tie tied in an “Anubis knot” is an allusion to Dorian’s desire to become a God like figure. The character’s face is decaying like the portrait of Dorian in the story, reflecting the dark changes within him. Around the portrait of the character, details of flowers and skulls are visible, underlining the main motifs of the story. The coin is topped with a gilded quotation from the book “To define is to limit”.
The unique 45 mm diameter, 2 oz limited edition coin is not only a collector’s item, but also a tangible reflection of the essence of Oscar Wilde’s famous novel, offering a closer look at the key details of the mystical Picture of Dorian Gray.