Gold Coin Virtues of the Queen - Courage 1 Oz 2023 Proof

The Queen's Virtues - Courage

An exclusive gold coin issued by the British Overseas Territory of St Helena for 2022 and struck in the finest 99.99% pure gold, weighing 1 Oz (31.1 g), this coin is part of the six-part Queen's Virtues series. This series is based on the allegorical figures of Queen Victoria's monument outside Buckingham Palace embodying the virtues of the monarch (Victory, Truth, Charity, Justice, Courage, Constancy). Courage was chosen for the fifth coin, as it is an important prerequisite for a ruler in achieving progress and victory for the nation.

The design for the reverse of the coin was created by the renowned Dutch medallist Elles Kloosterman. Respecting the original, he captured the likeness of the gilded bronze statue by Thomas Broch, which is perched at the feet of the goddess Victory atop the Queen Victoria Monument. The Statue of Courage, together with the Statue of Constancy, thus represent the foundation and support of Victory. The allegory of Courage is depicted in side view on a pedestal with the shield of the United Kingdom. She is dressed in a flowing cloak, wearing a helmet on her head and holding a staff in her right hand, symbolizing determination and bravery. The rim of the coin contains the Latin inscription 'FORTES - FORTUNA - ADIUVAT' (translated as 'Fortune favours the brave').
The construction of the monumental Queen Victoria Memorial in London was initiated by Edward VII after the death of his mother in 1901. A designated parliamentary committee chose a site for the memorial at the end of the ceremonial route of the Mall, outside the gates of Buckingham Palace. Following a competitive process, the sculptor Thomas Brock was commissioned to design and build the memorial. The estimated cost was estimated at £200,000. Funds raised came from across the British Empire and from the public. The unveiling ceremony took place on 16 March 1911 in the presence of two of the Queen's grandsons - King George V and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. The memorial was not fully completed until 1924.
The symbolism of the memorial is dedicated to the qualities of Queen Victoria that made her great and beloved. At the top of the central pylon, a winged Victory stands on the globe as a gilded goddess with a palm branch. Below her are gilded personifications of Constancy with a compass pointing north and Courage holding a staff. A pair of eagles with outstretched wings in the lower tier symbolize the British Empire. The central sculpture immortalises a seated Queen Victoria looking out over the Mall. The adjacent statues depict Justice, Truth and Motherhood/Charity.
The monument is circular in plan and is defined by opposing fountains and staircases leading to a raised platform. Two bronze sculptures complementing the decoration of the fountains embody Sea Power and Military Power, Science and Art. The reliefs represent mythological figures of the watery realm, linking with a number of other sculptural references to Britain's naval superpower. Each side of the pair of staircases is guarded by four separate bronze sculptures of a man accompanied by a lion. A woman with an olive branch depicts Peace, a young man with a burning torch depicts Development, a peasant woman with a sickle and sheaf of grain depicts Agriculture, and a blacksmith with a hammer and scroll documents Production.

The obverse depicts a coin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark, which is accompanied by the artist's initials "J.C.", the inscription "QUEEN ELIZABETH II - ST. HELENA", the denomination and the year of issue "FIVE POUND - 2022".

The coin comes in a representative box along with a numbered certificate of authenticity in a very limited edition of only 250 pieces for the whole world!

This product is part of the following product sets: