It’s been a while since the Mint of Poland debuted its new Commanders series of 2oz silver coins and we’re finally at the point where a second issue joins the club. Released at last years World Money Fair in Berlin, Spartacus was a fine looking coin with a quite superb obverse featuring a map showing the rebel gladiators rampage across the Roman Empire’s heartland.

That style is back with this new issue. Taking another great leader of the ancient world, the Spartan king Leonidas, it depicts him in full battle attire with his army behind him, and a few Persian warriors in front. It’s a great scene of coming carnage and definitely takes some inspiration from the aesthetic of Frank Millers film, 300. While the renders how bright red colouring, the finished coin is claimed to have red-gold gilding, which should look a little more subtle in reality.

The obverse is as brilliant as ever and an absolute favourite of ours. An object example in how to customise an effigy-adorned coin face, it again carries a map relevant to the subject. In this case, a look at the Pass of Thermopylae and the surrounding area in which this legendary battle unfolded takes pride of place.

Antique-finished, rimless, ultra-high-relief, and two ounces in weight, this is the classic format that the Mint of Poland has almost made their own with an avalanche of different series, all of a high quality. Great Commanders fits in well, and is one of the few to take on actual historical figures rather than the more common delve into mythology. A cool subject, depicted with an amazing level of dense detail, is always going to strike a chord with collectors in this genre. A mintage of 999 pieces is the norm, of course, and the coin comes boxed with a certificate of authenticity. The primary distributor is Mennica Gdanska (Mint of Gdansk), although expect availability to be wider and worldwide.