Edith Cavell honoured with release of special £5 coin

Special edition £5 coins bearing the image of Edith Cavell have been minted to honour the iconic first world war nurse.

The coin can be ordered from the Royal Mint. Its inscription reads ‘She faced them gentle and bold’. 

Ms Cavell was executed by firing squad in 1915 after helping 200 soldiers escape German-occupied Belgium.

To mark the release, Ms Cavell’s niece Emma Cavell visited the Royal Mint to strike one of the coins, accompanied by her 10-month-old daughter Edith.

‘It is fantastic to know that her bravery and courage is being recognised in this way, and to have the opportunity to strike and accept one of these special coins on behalf of my family,' she said. 'I look forward to telling my daughter about her famous namesake one day, and I am sure that she will treasure this coin.’