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5 Pounds - Elizabeth II WWI: Royal British Legion - Visiting war graves
| Issuer | States of Guernsey |
|---|---|
| Year | 2014 |
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| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents a poignant commemorative composition depicting a lone elderly civilian, viewed from behind, standing with a walking cane and saluting before rows of military headstones adorned with crosses in a war cemetery, evoking the Royal British Legion's tradition of visiting war graves. In the lower centre of the field, a colour-applied red poppy with a black centre provides a striking chromatic accent against the gold-plated surface. The legend 'FIVE POUNDS' is inscribed along the upper border, while '1914 · FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY · 1918' runs along the lower periphery, flanking the poppy. The entire design is struck on a poppy-shaped flan, reinforcing the commemorative theme of remembrance for the First World War centenary. |
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| Additional information |
The Royal British Legion was founded in 1921, partly to advocate for veterans who wanted — but couldn't always afford — to visit the graves of their fallen relatives in France and Belgium. The Legion's early pilgrimage program organized mass trips to the Western Front cemeteries, the first large one in 1928 drawing thousands of bereaved families to Ypres and the Menin Gate.
Guernsey's commemorative output during the WWI centenary was prolific, this being one of several gold-plated copper issues in the series. The format kept collector entry prices low while the Legion connection gave the pieces a fundraising dimension.