Marking the 300th Anniversary of a conflict that would shape the political structure of Europe for centuries, the Perth Mint has released the Battle of Poltava 1 oz Silver Bullion Coin.

This battle was just one of many in the Great Northern War, and while not particularly academic in its strategies, the outcome would strip the power of one nation and initiated the growth of power of another.

Before 1709, Sweden was a dominant military force intent on conquest over Europe. Russia was just a pawn, easily overcome by the Swedish in earlier years and left to heal its wounds.

But Tsar Peter I of Russia was not content with just recovering, he wanted to retaliate. To this end, he spent the next several years turning his armies into a modern force, schooled in new tactics and armed with the latest weapons. Read the rest of this entry »

The year was 1066 and a pivotal battle between two European powers that would help shape the history of the continent, and for that matter the world, was about to take place near a coastal village in England. To commemorate this conflict, the Perth Mint is now offering The Battle of Hastings 1066 1oz Silver Proof Coin as the third coin in its successful Famous Battle coin series.

Harold II, King of England, had just returned from crushing a Norwegian Viking invasion when he heard news of a Norman force near the village of Hastings. Eager to show his people of his ability to protect them under all circumstances, he rushed with what men he could find to meet the threat. Advisors had pleaded with King Harold to delay in order to give his battle weary soldiers a rest and to muster additional troops. Harold refused and marched at once with a force estimated at 7,500. Read the rest of this entry »

Offering the second coin in their Famous Battles series, The Perth Mint of Australia on Friday introduced the Battle of Cannae 216 BC 1 OZ Silver Proof Coin with a limited worldwide mintage of just 5,000. The Famous Battles series was launched with the Battle of Thermopylae 480BC coin, which met high demand and has already sold out.

The Battle of Cannae was a crushing defeat of the Roman army at the hands of Hannibal and his Carthaginian army. This battle would be the template of which many future commanders would strive to achieve. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in World War II, once wrote: Read the rest of this entry »