Description
Lord Nelson won “the most overwhelming victory in the age of sail” and now it is celebrated in a way unseen in his own lifetime.
Lord Nelson is our nation’s greatest naval leader and strategist. From 1793 until his death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 he fought with vigour and imagination, often out-manoeuvring his enemies with tactics and strategies that no-one had used before. He was courageous too, leading “from the front”, resulting in the loss of an eye while defending Corsica and then the loss of an arm at the Battle of Santa Cruz in Tenerife. His decisive victories secured Britain’s dominance of the seas for more than a century, which in turn enabled the expansion of Britain’s trading empire right around the globe.
One of the greatest victories of Nelson’s career was his defeat of the Napoleon’s navy at the Battle of the Nile. This was more than just ‘a win’ though; Nelson destroyed much of the fleet pitted against him. Historians at the Royal Navy call it “the most overwhelming naval victory in the age of sail”. Although there was recognition of this victory at the time, no commemorative coins were produced. Now, in this 225th anniversary year, this historical oversight is being corrected with the release of a series of limited edition gold sovereign coins to celebrate Britain’s greatest naval commander, Lord Nelson.
These coins are of great significance, here’s a brief snapshot of their most important benefits:
- These coins mark the 225th anniversary of Nelson’s victory at the Battle of the Nile, “the most overwhelming naval victory in the age of sail”. This success against the French led ultimately to the most famous naval engagement of Nelson’s career: the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
- The one eighth sovereign depicts the command flag of the Vice Admiral of the White (Nelson’s rank at the Battle of Trafalgar), flying on the fore topgallant masthead, with a cameo of Nelson
- The quarter sovereign depicts the main mast and mizzen mast of HMS Victory, with a cameo of Nelson
- The half sovereign shows the distinctive bow of HMS Victory, with the bowsprit rigging and the lower half of the foremast, with a cameo of Nelson.
- Although Lord Nelson’s successes were rewarded and celebrated at the time, surprisingly, no commemorative coins were produced: now, in this anniversary year, these limited edition gold sovereigns correct this historical oversight.
Britain’s greatest naval commander, celebrated with one of history’s greatest gold coins
Lord Nelson had a reputation not just in Britain. He was known around the world and he received, with great pride, many accolades from ‘the great and the good’. Following his tremendous victory at the Battle of the Nile 225 years ago, Nelson sailed to Naples where he was met in person by King Ferdinand IV. The City of London presented swords to Nelson and his captains, whilst King George III ordered they receive special medals of honour. He was sent opulent gifts from Emperor Paul I of Russia and Sultan Selim III of the Ottoman Empire, and was awarded the title ‘Baron Nelson of the Nile’.
All this glory, but significantly, no commemorative coins were produced to honour Nelson’s great victories during his lifetime, or indeed in the decades after. Upon his death in 1805, he was given a State funeral lasting more than five days – however, there was no permanent way for the people of Great Britain to celebrate or indeed commemorate this major national hero.
It’s worth considering that if a victory such as Trafalgar or the Nile had been won today there would be a myriad of commemoratives marking Nelson’s achievements, so these new coins rectify this oversight from his own lifetime.
The coins chosen to celebrate Nelson – gold sovereigns – are every bit as special as his career. In fact, the growth of the gold sovereign into a world currency, and the expansion of Britain’s trade empire that carried them around the globe, establishing them as coinage in over 30 different territories and nations, are all directly linked to Nelson’s victories and the pre-eminence it established for the Royal Navy.
At the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson’s flagship lived up to its name. Although the battle was won, Nelson was mortally wounded and his body was brought back to England on board HMS Victory which remains today in Portsmouth harbour, the oldest commissioned warship in the world.
Authorised by Tristan Da Cunha and approved by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Buckingham Palace.
The sale of every coin will benefit SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity
The Soldiers’, Sailors’, Airmen and Families Association, known as SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, provides support for our Forces and their families in their time of need. All coins purchased from the 2023 Lord Nelson Tribute Gold Sovereign Series will support SSAFA as it continues to provide welfare and well-being assistance to our forces and their families. 10% of all net profits will be paid in support of SSAFA.
