Strieborná medaila 10 oz Bitka pri Waterloo stand

The Battle of Waterloo is one of the most famous military engagements of all time. This event, which has become synonymous with destiny, is commemorated by a silver commemorative medal from the Czech Mint.

It was 1815, and the world was trying to recover from twelve years of the Napoleonic wars. However, their end was only apparent – the undefeated Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from exile on Elba, gathered his loyal followers, marched into Paris to thunderous cheers, and, without firing a single shot, once again took control of France. The reborn emperor tried to negotiate peace with the European states, but their hostile attitude was clear. His priority then became building an army that would keep him on the throne. He had two options for what to do with it. He could wait for an enemy invasion or attack first. He decided to take advantage of the element of surprise and march on Brussels – towards the British army commanded by Arthur Wellesley, a man better known as the Duke of Wellington. The campaign was promising for the French Armée du Nord. Wellington retreated several times and finally decided to take up a position near the Belgian town of Waterloo. The local landscape was perfectly suited to his proven tactics. A diligent student of military science, thanks to his rich experience in India, Portugal, and Spain, he knew how to choose favorable terrain, create strong defensive positions, and patiently wait for the enemy to attack. On June 18, he put these skills to full use. Napoleon exhausted French forces with frontal attacks on the slope, underestimating British tenacity and timely Prussian intervention. A British counterattack at the right moment then forever thwarted the French emperor's plans for world domination and crowned Wellington with victory laurels, who became famous as the "conqueror of the conqueror of the world"...

The obverse side of the medal, designed by medallist Adam Liška, DiS., is dominated by an idealized depiction of Napoleon Bonaparte. The commander, sitting on the back of his faithful horse Marengo, sets out to attack his enemies. The composition of the obverse is complemented by the dramatic inscription BITVA U WATERLOO (Battle of Waterloo). On the reverse side, next to the battle plan, the destruction caused by the fateful battle is immortalized. "The sad sight of the battlefield littered with the bodies of fallen soldiers is meant to be gloomy. Wars have no winners – there are casualties on both sides. In the distance, we can see the surviving men of the Seventh Coalition, which was victorious, and wooden carts carrying the corpses away from the battlefield," explains the author of the medal.

This momentous event is commemorated by a large medal – the silver medal weighs ten troy ounces.