diff --git a/Polynomial/include/CGAL/Polynomial/polynomial_functions.h b/Polynomial/include/CGAL/Polynomial/polynomial_functions.h
index 76e4ebc97bd..608a5e9cf80 100644
--- a/Polynomial/include/CGAL/Polynomial/polynomial_functions.h
+++ b/Polynomial/include/CGAL/Polynomial/polynomial_functions.h
@@ -171,7 +171,38 @@ substitute_xy(
     return sub;
 }
 
+//! coefficient <I>a<SUB>ij</SUB></I> of <I>x<SUP>i</SUP>y<SUP>j</SUP></I>
+template < class NT >
+NT coefficient(const CGAL::Polynomial< CGAL::Polynomial< NT > > &p, 
+               int i, int j) {
 
+    typedef CGAL::Polynomial_traits_d< 
+    CGAL::Polynomial< CGAL::Polynomial< NT > > > PT_2;
+    CGAL_precondition(2 == PT_2::d);
+    typename PT_2::Get_innermost_coefficient coefficient;
+    CGAL::Exponent_vector ev;
+    ev.push_back(i);
+    ev.push_back(j);
+    return coefficient(p, ev);
+}
+
+//! coefficient <I>a<SUB>ijk</SUB></I> of <I>x<SUP>i</SUP>y<SUP>j</SUP><I>z<SUP>k</SUP></I>
+template < class NT >
+NT coefficient(
+        const CGAL::Polynomial < CGAL::Polynomial< CGAL::Polynomial< NT > > > 
+        &p, 
+        int i, int j, int k) {
+
+    typedef CGAL::Polynomial_traits_d< 
+    CGAL::Polynomial< CGAL::Polynomial< CGAL::Polynomial< NT > > > > PT_3;
+    CGAL_precondition(3 == PT_3::d);
+    typename PT_3::Get_innermost_coefficient coefficient;
+    CGAL::Exponent_vector ev;
+    ev.push_back(i);
+    ev.push_back(j);
+    ev.push_back(k);
+    return coefficient(p, ev);
+}
 
 CGAL_END_NAMESPACE