A significant new addition to the A. G. Leventis Gallery Collections is opening its doors to the public on the 10 January 2020. 

605 gold coins and commemorative gold medals form the new ‘Gold Collection’. The collection was developed by Anastasios G. Leventis from the early 1960s to 1976 while he was living in Paris, and is presented to the public in its entirety for the first time.  

The properties of gold, such as rarity, durability, purity, malleability and lustre, are associated with power, human and divine, as well as personal or collective wealth. Moreover, gold has always been considered a safe investment, especially in times of economic crisis, and Leventis, as a good and insightful businessman and a passionate collector, created this exceptional collection, which includes rare specimens of special interest to both collectors and scholars.

The collection is divided into two main categories: (a) ancient, Byzantine and medieval coins; and (b) modern and contemporary coins and medals dating from the 17th century to the 20th from twenty-five countries on four continents, including Europe, Africa, North and South America and Asia (Middle East). The British coins, dated from the 17th century to the 20th, comprise the greater part of the collection.

Gold in the form of money has been the basis of currencies that have marked the world’s monetary history by providing standards of value and means of exchange. The collection includes coins of great empires with international trade, power and reputation, coins with remarkable iconography and commemorative coins, all considered landmarks in the history of world coinage. 

The permanent exhibition presents the entire collection to the public with the aim of encouraging visitors to appreciate its significance. The use of new technology, videos and projections helps to immerse visitors in the captivating world of coins and its richness.