As the 75th Battle of Britain Memorial Day takes place to commemorate one of the turning points of the Second World War, The Royal Mint has released a range of limited edition precious metal coins to mark the anniversary of the conflict in the skies.
In the July of 1940 Britain faced the threat of invasion and it fell to a group of nearly 3,000 brave young pilots and their crews to defend the country and battle for control of the skies.
More than 500 were killed, one in six of those who fought, but Britain held strong and by October it was clear that Hitler’s plans would not be possible – The Battle of Britain had been won.
The 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain 2015 UK 50p features a design by Gary Breeze, who has captured a sense of courage coupled with foreboding with his trio of airmen scrambling for their planes as a squadron of threatening aircraft seemingly swarm overhead.
Gary Breeze is a renowned sculptor with major commissions found throughout the United Kingdom, including the Bali Bombing Memorial at Horse Guards Road, London and the Christ Church Cloister fountain in Oxford.
Other notable work can be seen at the Scottish Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Chatsworth Gardens and The Victoria and Albert Museum as well as many universities and schools. This is his first coin for The Royal Mint.
He said, “In some ways the Battle of Britain appeals to our innate joy at winning against tremendous odds. I wanted to celebrate that in one sense. But I think that remembering the cost of war is more relevant today. I spent a good deal of time concentrating on the machines at first, but the aircraft didn’t say enough about the sacrifice of life or the meaning of the Battle today.
The 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain 2015 50p is expected to enter general circulation later this year in recognition of the commemorations.
It is available in limited edition mintages as a Silver Proof Coin, Silver Proof Piedfort Coin or as a Gold Proof Coin, and in a highly collectable Brilliant Uncirculated finish.
