Great Engravers Waterloo 2 Oz UK silver proof Coin 2024
This 2024 Waterloo Medal Allied Leaders 2 oz Silver Proof Coin was issued by the Royal Mint as part of The Great Engravers series. It celebrates Benedetto Pistrucci's iconic Waterloo Medal, touted by numismatists as the greatest medal designed in Britain. After 30-years in the making, the medal was famously never struck due to fears it would damage the dies.
Please note this coin has some slight milk spots. This is a natural process which does not detract from the value of the coin.
This coin is the first in a 2-part edition, with the 2nd issue being released in 2025.
- Manufacturer: The Royal Mint
- Fineness: 999 fine silver
- Contains 2 troy ounces of silver
- Exempt from Capital Gains Tax
- Presentation: Royal Mint box & certificate of authenticity
- Maximum Coin Mintage: 3,060 Coins
- Limited Edition Presentation: 2,950 Coins
- Weight: 62.86g
- Diameter: 40mm
Battle of the Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo, fought on 18 June 1815, was a decisive conflict that ended the Napoleonic Wars. Taking place near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, the battle saw Napoleon Bonaparte's French forces clash with a coalition led by the Duke of Wellington and Prussian General Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.
After a gruelling day of combat, the coalition forces succeeded in defeating the French, leading to Napoleon's final downfall and exile. This victory not only ended Napoleon's rule but also reshaped the political landscape of Europe.
Waterloo Medal (1819-1849)
In 1819, four years after the Battle of Waterloo, Italian sculptor Benedetto Pistrucci began working on a Waterloo Medal on behalf of the British government, intended to be presented to allied sovereigns, their ministers and generals.
However, due to several reasons, including his conflicting opinions with the Royal Mint regarding the medal and his own health issues, the medal's completion was delayed until 1849. Although the original medal was never struck, it took three decades to complete. The medal now can be seen only at The Royal Mint Museum which we visited!
The design of the medal has been praised by numismatists and is regarded as one of the greatest numismatic achievements, cementing Pistrucci's reputation as a great engraver.
