Silver coin 1 Oz Gustav Klimt: The Kiss

Through its silver coins, the Mint XXI commemorates the most famous works of art in the world. Naturally, Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss is a must-have among them.

At the turn of 1907 and 1908, the Austrian painter Gustav Klimt created one of his most famous works, titled The Kiss. While his previous works, which were brimming with eroticism, caused a scandal, this oil painting, enhanced with gold leaf, was received with enthusiasm by both experts and the general public. The painting depicts an intimate scene of a lovers’ embrace—a man leans toward a woman and presses his lips to her cheek, while she, with her eyes slightly closed, surrenders to the moment. The figures blend into the richly decorated background, and their bodies almost dissolve into ornamental patterns, which blur the line between reality and dream. The composition feels both serene and tense; the artist’s technical mastery is evident in every detail, but what continues to fascinate viewers most is the celebration of love as a timeless and universal force. Inspired by Byzantine mosaics, the work has become an icon of Viennese Art Nouveau and a symbol of the union of decorative art with a profound emotional experience.

The reverse side of the rectangular coin is entirely filled with a reproduction of Klimt’s work. Thanks to colorization technology, The Kiss stands out in vivid colors. The obverse side, filled with decorative curves, bears the issuer’s attributes. Since the coin is issued under license by the state of Cameroon, it bears its name and the nominal value of 1,000 CFA FRANCS (XAF).

The coin is stored in an elegant frame, allowing you to easily display this work of art.