Last year, the Royal Mint launched its First World War commemorative coin program and one of the biggest of the launches was the first of five annual six coin sets to be released up to 2018. The 2014 set dealt with the outbreak of the war and this one heads into 1915 as the realisation that this war wasn’t going to be over quickly first began to dawn on people. The subjects of the coins varies from war heroes like Albert Ball, through battles like Gallipoli, and on to the technology which changed throughout this conflict at an unprecedented pace.

As before, there’s to be a silver set and a gold one, with the latter limited to just 25 sets, hardly surprising given you’ll get little change from ten grand for it. Also as before, the coins follow two distinct styles, one with an inscripted border and one without. For us again, the latter style is far superior, with the two coins foregoing the border having far more space to breath and looking all the better for it. A mix of artistic styles, not unexpected given the mix of artists, it’s a fine set which collectors of these coins will no doubt like.

Selling for £450 in silver and £9,999 in gold, it’s available to order from the Royal Mint later today.

SUBMARINES

This design, created by Edwina Ellis, is dominated by the submarine with a perspective view that emphasises the sinister, underwater threat of the vessels. The inscription ‘IN LITTLE BOXES MADE OF TIN’ is taken from Rudyard Kipling’s poem, The Trade, one of his many maritime-themed poems. Edwina also designed the coin depicting a Howitzer which featured in the initial six-coin set.

GALLIPOLI

This design for Gallipoli was created by John Bergdahl, who has placed a strategic map as his background, with a scene in the forefront that depicts boats landing at the shores of the peninsula. The coin’s inscription, ‘HEROES THAT SHED THEIR BLOOD’, is taken from the Kemal Ataturk Memorial. Named after the commander who led the Turkish 19th Infantry Division when it repelled the Allied attack, the memorial honours those who fought gallantly in Gallipoli. John also designed the coin honouring the British Expeditionary Force which featured in the previous six-coin set.

MERCHANT NAVY

David Rowlands designed this coin with its lone sailor poised upon the deck of a merchant vessel. The inscription ‘SEPULCHRED IN THE HARBOUR OF THE DEEP’ is taken from the poem, HMS Bulwark Britannia to Her Lost Seamen by William Trend. This is David’s fourth coin for The Royal Mint; two of his reverse designs were selected for the 2014 six-coin set and he created the Royal Navy commemorative £2 coin for 2015.

ANIMALS AT WAR

David Lawrence has created a striking design that places a mule at the centre of the composition depicting the heat of battle. The coin’s inscription, ‘PATIENT EYES COURAGEOUS HEARTS,’ is taken from Julian Grenfell’s poem, Into Battle, inspired by nature and its comforting qualities during conflict. David Lawrence also designed the coin exploring ‘propaganda’ during the war which featured in the introductory First World War Six-Coin Set released in 2014.

ALBERT BALL VC

Albert Ball has been depicted in a portrait-style design, in uniform, with his beloved flying machines around him. The coin’s inscription reads ‘BY FAR THE BEST ENGLISH FLYING MAN’ a quotation from his most renowned enemy, Manfred von Richthofen, known as the Red Baron, upon hearing of Ball’s death.

EDITH CAVELL

The coin depicts a scene with the ever-vigilant Edith tending to a wounded soldier with a portrait-style design of the selfless nurse in her uniform as the background. Inspired by the words of Laurence Binyon’s moving poem, Edith Cavell, the coin’s inscription reads ‘SHE FACED THEM GENTLE AND BOLD’.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

As the world continues to remember the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, The Royal Mint has honoured one of the most prominent female casualties of the First World War alongside a young flying ace in a new set of United Kingdom £5 coins.

Coins commemorating Edith Cavell and Albert Ball VC feature in the six-coin set which has been released as part of The Royal Mint’s five-year programme of commemoration of the First World War that will tell the story of the emotive journey from outbreak to armistice.

The designs have been created by sculptor David Cornell who has undertaken a number of commissions for The Royal Mint, including a coin honouring British Army officer Walter Tull which featured in the introductory First World War six-coin set which was released in 2014.

David is one of five leading artists who have been selected by The Royal Mint Advisory Committee to design coins for The Royal Mint’s First World War commemorative collection.

Each year until 2018, a set of six coins will be released that cover a range of themes; key battles, the armed forces and support services, technological developments of the period, the cultural impact of war and stories of some of the heroes of the time. The final set will be a poignant reflection on armistice and the on-going legacy of the war.

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