The penultimate day in our British Pobjoy Mint catchup week features the only two-coin set to be covered and it’s one that joins the growing commemorations for one of historys most important, and well knowns battles, Waterloo. There have been some fine coins already released from the Royal Mint, including a spectacular Pistrucci-designed medallion, and the Pobjoy Mint debuted a fine Napoleon coin just a couple of months ago. Belgium skirted around the absolutely ludicrous protestations of the French government, by changing the face value and issuing their own design as a commemorative, in what can only be described as a hypocritical and farcical episode. What was a minor coin release became headline news over Europe and France made an issue out of nothing.
We’ve already talked about Waterloo in those previous posts, but suffice to say, it’s a battle with widespread popular interest, and that makes an excellent subject for a coin. Pobjoy have made a fine decision making this a two-coin set, and the mirrored orientation of the portraits so that they can face each other was a nice touch. Issued for the Isle of Man and thus carrying a denomination of One Crown each, the obverse features the usual effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.
Each coin is available seperately at £58.29 plus tax, or with a small discount as a two-coin set for £115.83 plus tax. Both are one-ounce coins struck in sterling silver, with a total mintage of 10,000 pieces.
MINTS DESCRIPTION
Pobjoy Mint is delighted to announce the issue of two new coins on behalf of the Isle of Man Government which commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.
The Battle of Waterloo was fought as part of the Napoleonic Wars. Waterloo was a village south of Brussels in Belgium. Here Napoleon Bonaparte’s French soldiers met the armies of Britain and Prussia. The battle took place on 18th June 1815 and this year sees the Bicentenary of the Battle.
The Battle of Waterloo began with Napoleon’s 72,000 men facing the Duke of Wellington’s army of 68,000 men. Wellington had British, Dutch, Belgian and German soldiers on his side, but was expecting even more when the 45,000 Prussian soldiers arrived. Eventually the Prussians began to arrive and Napoleon was forced to send groups of his soldiers to try and stop the Prussians from being able to join up with Wellington’s forces. By early evening it was apparent that the French were losing so instead of defending their position, Wellington ordered his soldiers to attack and the French army began to run away. Four days after this famous Battle, Napoleon gave up power and was exiled to the island of St Helena.
There are two coins in the Isle of Man series to commemorate the anniversary the first coin features a portrait of the Duke of Wellington with the British Infantry Square in the background. The second coin features a portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte with the Charge of the Hussars shown in the background. The obverse of the coin bears an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann, by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.
Available in Cupro Nickel and Proof Sterling Silver, the coins are struck to the highest quality with the precious metal versions being produced with a stunning ‘proof’ finish. The design on each coin is in relief with a glorious mirror-finish background.
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