The Currency

"The Currency is the first NFT collection by Damien Hirst. Reimagining the way NFTs are used, The Currency consists of 10,000 artworks that exist as either NFT or physical artwork, forcing collectors to choose between the two mediums. Starting with the creation of the physical artworks in 2016, The Currency is the latest iteration of the iconic Spot Paintings series by Damien Hirst. The artwork explores the boundaries of art and currency—when art changes and becomes a currency, and when currency becomes art. Successful applicants initially received the artwork as NFT, and were given one year to decide to keep the NFT or exchange it for the physical artwork. Whichever you chose, the other got burned. The exchange period closed on 27 July 2022 resulting in 4,851 holders deciding to keep the NFT, and 5,149 to keep the physical artwork, for a total of 10,000 artworks in the collection. In September 2022 The Currency Exhibition opened, showing all 10,000 artworks with the 4,851 physical artworks that collectors chose to keep as NFTs being burnt gradually throughout the course of the exhibition." - HENI.com