The Battle of Arnhem Geocoin

To visit all kind of historical places around the world.

After i found my first geocoin i wanted to make my own. I love historical geocoins and since my hometown is Arnhem it was clear to me: a Battle of Arnhem geocoin.

In september 1944 the brave men of the British 1st Airborne Division and the Polish 1st Independent Parachute brigade landed near Arnhem to fight a battle they would loose: the battle for the two bridges in Arnhem.

Each year in september there are serveral remembrance ceremonies, flowers are laid at the war graves by school kids, paratroupers drop in at one of the drop zones during the battle and there is the Airborne march.

Arnhem and the surrounding villages are full of historical places and monuments that remember this battle: the restored bridge in Arnhem, the Hartenstein hotel which was the head quarters of the British and is now a museum and serveral other places like the dropzones that were used to land during the first days of the battle.

I love to take long walks and i regulary take a route that visits these spots.

About the coin:

The front side carries the silhouetted image of Bellerophon the warrior, mounted on the winged Pegasus in light blue on a maroon background. (This was the official marking used by the soldiers during and after the battle.)

The back side displays a stylized map of the river Rhine, the villages, roads and drop zones during the battle. At the top there are some Dakota planes dropping paratroopers and at the bottom there are three flags: British, Polish and Dutch.

The coin is 1.75 inch wide, 3 mm thick, is trackabele and has a unique icon. It is made in (imitation) hard enamel. 100 coins were made in 4 editions and 3 finishes: Antique Silver, Antique Bronze and Antique Copper. There is a special edition made in soft enamel that was given away to friends and Battle of Arnhem related caches.