Napoleon Bees

THE 2021 NAPOLEON BEES 1OZ GOLD PROOF COIN
After his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 Napoleon was exiled to St Helena, a South Atlantic island which at the time was owned by the East India Company. He died in Longwood House on St Helena in May 1821.

On the 200th Anniversary of the death of Napoleon, we are proud to pay tribute to his stay on St Helena and the humble but powerful icon that symbolised his reign: the Golden Bee.

OBVERSE
The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (effigy known as the “Fifth Portrait” worldwide but “Sixth Portrait” in Australia, where the Queen’s portrait by Vladimir Gottwald was fifth).

The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen’s Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen mother) in 1937.

Unlike on British coinage, the effigy is “uncouped” (includes the Queen’s shoulders). In small letters on the left, the artist’s initials JC (for Jody Clark).

Running continuously around the rim is the monarch’s legend, the date of issue and the face value: ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 5 POUNDS · 2021 ·. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Saint Helena.

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 5 POUNDS · 2021 ·

REVERSE
The reverse design shows a bee, a symbol of industry and harmony that connected Napoleon Bonaparte’s new Empire to the kings of ancient French history, surrounded by a crowned laurel wreath (symbol of victory) held at the bottom by an orb with a cross on top. In the background, a swarm of bees picked out in proof frosting.

Around above, divided by the crown, the inscription NAPOLÉON BONAPARTE.

Around below, the dates of Napoleon’s life 1769 – 1821, followed by the EIC mint mark of the East India Company – the letters are separated by arrows radiating from the centre around which they are situated. A single bee forms a punctuation point in the coin’s outer circle, positioned opposite the East India Company mint mark.

Reverse Inscription NAPOLÉON BONAPARTE 1769 – 1821