Stories of Gold, at the Leventis Gallery, until 11th February 2019

12 rare coins, dating from Alexander the Great, to the Byzantine, the Mediaeval and the early modern world come to life…

The A. G. Leventis Gallery in Nicosia 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once owned by the founder, Anastasios G. Leventis, to the public – in a first display of this hitherto unknown and unpublished collection. The A. G. Leventis Gold Coins Collection includes several and rare specimens of special interest both for collectors and scholars and the aim is not to introduce only the collection to the academic community and the general public, but also provide an opportunity for visitors to explore several pieces that are considered landmarks in the history of world coinage.

A selection of 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 visitors and particularly young visitors, into exploring further aspects of numismatic history. For the purposes of the exhibition important works of art travelled 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 that help coins come to life.