Niue Island 1 Dollar 2010 Silver Proof Napoleon Bonaparte

Description

To commemorate the 198th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino the Mint of Poland stroke 2 coins dedicated to the outstanding military leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte and Mikhail Kutuzov. The coins are add to the “Great Commanders” international collection, already featuring the coins manufactured by the Kazakhstan Mint, “Chingiz Khan” and “Attila the Hun”.

The “Napoleon Bonaparte” and “Mikhail Kutuzov” coins was released on 30 September 2010. The pieces have been stroken in a limited mintage, with proof quality, on blanks of silver Ag 925, using the pad printing technology. They are offered to buyers in dedicated presentation case.

On 5-7 September 1812 two great leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte and Mikhail Kutuzov, met on a battlefield. As a result of the Battle of Borodino the French Emperor defeated the Russian army. However, the losses on both sides were incredibly high. The Russians lost some 50,000 troops and the French some 35,000. The heavy losses sustained by the French cavalry and the refusal to use the Imperial Guard made it impossible to pursue the retreating Russian troops. Napoleon then took Moscow on 14 September 1812, but the prime goal of the campaign, which was to destroy the Russian army in a major battle, was not accomplished, and it soon resulted in a general defeat in Russia. Faced with a coming winter Napoleon had to order his troops to retreat and it was then that most of his army was destroyed. At that time, Mikhail Kutuzov was named the architect of Napoleon’s failure, and using so-called “scorched -earth” policy demonstrated the effects of strategic retreat, maneuvers and counteroffensive action.

Obverse:
In the central part of the coin: an image of Les Invalides, the cathedral where the Napoleon’s tomb is placed. At the top, on the right side, face value – 1 Dollar; on the left an image of Elizabeth II Queen. Beneath it – mint’s mark (M/W) and year of issue 2010. Along the rim – inscriptions: ELIZABETH II, NIUE ISLAND, DOLLAR.

Reverse:
On the left side – an image of Napoleon Bonaparte, at the background – extracts of staging of the Battle of Borodino – an image of marcher soldiers with a firearm and an image of two cannons. On the right side, along the rim – inscriptions: NAPOLEON BONAPARTE (1769-1821).

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), the First Consul of the French First Republic in the years 1799-1804, the French Emperor in the years 1804-1814 and 1815, the President (1802-1805) and King of Italy in the years 1805-1814. On the one hand he is considered to be one of the most prominent statesmen, leaders, war strategists, reformers of the state and its law (Napoleonic Code, Code pénal), and on the other hand, an egotist, tyrant and aggressor. Napoleon was a monarch of the greatest European power and one of the most prominent conquerors in history. He led, almost incessantly, some dozen wars in the years 1800 – 1815.The war fronts stretched from Lisbon to Moscow, and from England to Sweden and Italy. Napoleon fought in Austria, Spain and Germany, triumphed at Marengo, Ulm, Austerlitz, Friedland, Somosierra, and Wagram, however, scoring defeats at sea at Abu Kir and Trafalgar. He defeated Prussia in the battle at Jena and Auerstedt and Russia in battles at Fryland. In Russia, he led two victorious battles – at Smolensk and Borodino. As a result of the conquests and annexes by 1812 France expanded its territory to 750,000 square km. The annexes included: Belgium, the Netherlands, German provinces by the North Sea, the Illyrian Provinces in the Balkans and a substantial portion of Italian land along the western coast of the Mediterranean Sea, including Rome itself. In addition to that, France claimed the direct dependence of the kingdoms of Spain, Italy and Naples, the German Rhine Confederation, the Swiss Helvetic Republic, and the Duchy of Warsaw. Napoleon suffered a tremendous defeat at the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig, fought on 16-19 October 1813. As a result of that was exiled to Elba. Following the “Hundred Days” after numerous treachery of his closest soldiers, he was finally defeated on 18 June 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo in the Belgian territory. He was then exiled to the island of Saint Helena. He remained there for 6 years, attempting suicide on three occasions. Napoleon died on 5 May 1821 at 52.