In addition to sculptures, museum Beelden aan Zee also collects sculptural coins and medals, that is to say, coins that have been designed by their sculptors either as a commission or on their own initiative. Some modern sculptors feel the need to work not only in large scale but also in a smaller format. In this way, stand-alone pieces are created that sometimes have a relationship to an artists larger works. This relationship to sculptural art makes the collection of museum Beelden aan Zee unique. Coins therefore form an autonomous part of the museum’s collection.

Sculptural coins

In the Netherlands, the sculptural coin burgeoned in the 1960s and 1970s thanks to the inspiration of V.P.S. ‘Piet’ Esser (1914-2004). As a professor of sculpture at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam from 1947 to 1978 he taught an entire generation of young sculptors to cast coins which, according to him, could be made not only as commissions but also out of their own free will and inspiration. His contribution to this form of art was so great that this movement is known as the Esser School. The collection at museum Beelden aan Zee provides an excellent overview of the work of both the first and second generation of Piet Esser’s students.

800 coins

The collection came into being as the result of purchases and gifts, and it continues to expand to this day. It is in particular the valuable gifts that play an important role in this. The very first benefactors were Theo and Lida Scholten, founders of museum Beelden aan Zee. Their private collection forms the foundation of the museum’s collection. In the year 2000, the couple Frans and Lideke Peese Binkhorst donated their collection of modern Dutch coins to the museum. This major collection of approximately 800 coins will be transferred to the museum at a later date. In the meantime, the museum can make use of the works for exhibition purposes. 

Coin depot

It is possible to visit the coin depot. Visitor requests should be made in advance via Jadwiga Pol (pol@sculptuurinstituut.nl). Please note that the visit may only take place after it has been confirmed by the museum.

Wall display case

Since 2017, museum Beelden aan Zee has had a new wall display case designed by the architect Wim Quist. The periodically changing exhibitions in this case explore modern medals, sculptural coins, sculptural drawings and photography relating to sculptural art. This new display case, located at the entrance of the Sculptuur Instituut, was made possible by a financial contribution from Frans Peese Binkhorst and Lideke Peese Binkhorst-Hoffscholte.