A member of The Royal Mint Coin Graphic Design Team has taken inspiration from the renowned poem “In Flanders Fields” as the foundation of this year’s Remembrance Day coin. The poppy is a symbol synonymous with remembrance and the traditions that surround it, making it the main focal point of the 2017 Remembrance Day coin.
The coin was designed by Royal Mint graphic designer Stephen Taylor, and is the second design of Stephen’s to appear on a United Kingdom coin – he also created the reverse design to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen becoming Britain’s longest reigning monarch in 2015.
Stephen said of his Remembrance Day design:
“I started my research by looking at words and symbols that are connected with Armistice Day, but realizing that the poppy is by far the most synonymous with remembrance and the traditions that surround it, that became my focus.
“I chose natural poppies with a realistic, wildflower quality, echoing the flowers John McCrae would have seen growing when he wrote the poem, ‘In Flanders Fields’. It’s a poignant reminder of the brave men and women who have lost their lives or been injured in conflicts past and present, enabling new life to grow from their sacrifice.”
“Silence speaks when words can not”
Royal Mint coin designer Kerry Davies suggested the words ‘Silence speaks when words can not’ and it was selected as the inscription for this design.
The inscription ties in the notion of silence, which many if not all participate in on Remembrance Day, and which communicates more about Remembrance Day than words ever could.
The coin is available in Silver Proof, Silver Proof Piedfort and Brilliant Uncirculated finishes.
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About The Royal Mint
The Royal Mint has an unbroken history of minting British coinage dating back over 1,000 years. By the late 13 century the organisation was based in the Tower of London, and remained there for over 500 years. By 1812 The Royal Mint had moved out of the Tower to premises on London’s Tower Hill. In 1967 the building of a new Royal Mint began on its current site in South Wales, UK.
While The Royal Mint’s finest traditions are always respected, it continually innovates in order to stay at the forefront of world minting, embracing the latest production techniques and technology in order to offer excellence to our clients across the globe. By underpinning our proud heritage with a highly progressive outlook, The Royal Mint produces coins that remain a byword for trust and reliability the world over.
