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Friday, 21st October 2005 (4422 views)

To commemorate today's (October 21st) 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, the Royal Mint has launched a new coin.

The Nelson coin can be purchased in a £5 version, which retails for its face value, as well as in silver and 22-carat gold versions, which are on sale for £34.95 and £525 respectively. The gold and silver coins have "England expects that everyman will do his duty inscribed on them.

According to Gerald Sheehan, chief executive of the Royal Mint, the coins have been designed to encourage people to find out more about their national heritage.

"We hope that by creating a coin to commemorate Lord Nelson, he will be remembered by generations to come as a national hero," he commented.

The coins feature a portrait of Horatio Nelson and are inscribed with Horatio Nelson 1805 – 2005.

Nelson came to prominence for his heroic admiral qualities combined with diplomatic skills. Even after loosing his right arm in 1797, and being almost blind in his right eye, Nelson went on to win the battles of Nile, Copenhagen and Trafalgar and is remembered as the man who saved England from Napoleon.

The Royal Mint has also released two companion coins: a Nelson portrait by James Butler RA and a battle scene, designed by Clive Duncan.

 

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