The British Army went to war in 1914 with about 25,000 horses and lost more than 484,000 by 1918, roughly one for every two soldiers killed. This gold-plated 2014 crown from Tristan da Cunha honours those silent participants of the Great War.

On the reverse a soldier strokes a horse’s head in front of a coloured Union Flag, all within a laurel wreath. The legend calls the horses «BACKBONE OF THE ARMY», followed by the dates «1914-1918», «WAR HORSES» and the value «ONE CROWN». The obverse bears Elizabeth II with «HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II · TDC 2014».

The phrase is no exaggeration. Horses hauled the guns, six to twelve per piece, as well as supply wagons and ambulances, and carried messengers and scouts. Home stocks soon ran out, so animals were bought in the United States, Canada, Australia and Argentina and requisitioned from British farms. The Army Veterinary Corps treated 725,216 horses during the war and returned over 529,000 to duty.

Struck for the centenary of the outbreak of war, the crown belongs to Tristan da Cunha’s series on individual chapters of the conflict. For thematic collectors it combines two popular fields at once: military history and animals on coins.

Uncirculated condition: the coin never circulated, shows no wear, and its gilding and coloured flag remain as issued. Fine details such as the mane, the harness and the folds of the uniform stay crisp as a result.

The VPcoins catalogue features coins from many countries, making it easy to build a collection by geography or by subject.