80 years D-Day Medal in Coincard

The year is 1944 and a big part of Europe is held captive by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi-Germany. Meanwhile, the Allies have been working on a major invasion (Operation Neptune) for months. On the night of the 5th to the 6th of June, the time has finally come and the largest amphibious operation ever takes place, that we know as D-Day. Today is the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Royal Dutch Mint launches a special Medal in Coincard to commemorate this moment. 

Liberation of Western Europe

The importance of D-Day is huge: this day started the liberation of Western Europe. From England, a lot of British and American warships were transported to Normandy: the landing area was 90 kilometers wide and divided into 5 beaches: Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach. After heavy fighting, the Allies manage to break through the first German defenses and march on and on, until Paris is liberated on August 25th, 1944. This is seen as the end of Operation Overlord, the umbrella name for all invasions and landings in Paris. The first attacks and navy part of this operation was called Operation Neptune. Finally, World War II in Europe would come to an end with Germany’s surrender on May 8th, 1945. 

Design

The commemoration of 80 years D-Day is captured in a beautiful Medal in Coincard. The obverse of the Coincard shows an American Jeep with an American Soldier, watching British Spitfires flying along the French Coast. The reverse shows the current coast of Normandy: calm and empty, in stark contrast to that one day in June 1944. A military Dog Tag, which was worn by soldiers, is visible on the left. The specifications of the Medal can be found on here.

On the reverse, the Medal shows a tribute to a fallen soldier, with the beach of Normandy in the background. The obverse of the Medal reads “80 Years D-Day” with below it the text “Victory in spite of all terror”, a quote from Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain at the time of World War II.