The Royal Mint is to release a range of commemorative coins to celebrate more than 200 years since the Battle of Waterloo which began on 18 June 1815.
Although not clear when the coins will be put on to the market, it’s likely that collectors will be rushing to buy them.
Wiltshire expert Jon White of The Britannia Coin Company believes they could be released to coincide with the anniversary of the famous battle.
He said: “The Battle of Waterloo was fought on 18 June 1815 in modern Belgium. An allied coalition led by the Duke of Wellington drove back Emperor Bonaparte’s forces in a closely fought victory that brought the Napoleonic Wars to a close. The peace negotiations that followed would redraw the map of Europe and position Britain as a formidable military and economic powerhouse.
“Soldiers who took part in the battle received a medal to wear, but allied leaders and other dignitaries were meant to receive a large commemorative medal to celebrate the victory. This didn’t actually happen.”
The medal was to be designed by Italian artist Benedetto Pistrucci, but he delayed the job, taking more than 30 years to complete the design. The monumental medal, measuring more than 10cm in diameter, was therefore not struck in his lifetime as most of the intended recipients were dead by the time it was finished.
Two centuries later, Pistrucci's design will now be featured on UK coinage for the first time as part of an exclusive collection produced by the Royal Mint called The Great Engravers.
“These coins offer collectors a chance to own beautiful and rare coin designs from the past, remastered using a fusion of modern technology and historic craftsmanship,”Jon said.
Information published in the London Gazette in March reveals that the Mint will produce two-kilo and five-kilo solid gold coins as part of the exclusive range, as well as smaller limited-edition 24-carat gold and 999 silver collectables.
Jon said: “Previous coins in the sought-after Great Engravers series have sold out quickly as collectors rush to get hold of these highly collectable designs. We think The Royal Mint will produce even fewer of these new Waterloo coins, which will drive up demand, meaning that they could be very valuable in the future. Examples of earlier coins in the Great Engravers series have sold for thousands of pounds above their initial retail price.”
According to The Royal Mint, these Waterloo coins will be released in two batches. One side of the original medal will be reproduced in 2024, with a portrait of King Charles III on the other side. The second side of the medal will follow in 2025.
An official release date has not yet been confirmed, but with the anniversary of the battle approaching, collectors are ready to purchase at a moment’s notice.
• Image shows one of the coins to be released.
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