Front: “Invictus · Bloody But Unbowed”
Back: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
At a glance
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Theme: self-command: whatever happens, you decide who you are
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Good for: after injury or loss, leaving the service, a public setback, a team that went through it together
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Gift for: veterans, athletes, a whole team, men who don't talk about what they carry
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Finishes: Antique Bronze (brass alloy), Antique Silver (brass alloy), Antique Copper (solid copper)
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Size: 39 mm, about 1 oz, die struck in the USA
The meaning
Invictus is Latin for unconquered. It is also the title of the 1875 poem by William Ernest Henley, written while he was in hospital, after illness had already cost him part of one leg. Its last lines are on the back of this coin: I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.
The poem has been read by soldiers, athletes and prisoners for over a century. Nelson Mandela recited it to fellow prisoners on Robben Island. Its point is simple: you cannot control what life throws at you, but you decide how you stand.
The design
The front carries Invictus on a banner over a sword and laurel leaves, with Bloody But Unbowed on a ribbon. On the back, a tall ship sails through heavy seas, the captain's lines wrapped around it.
On good days and hard days
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On good days, it reminds you that you are the master of your fate and the captain of your soul.
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On hard days, when life knocks you down, it gives you Henley's words to stand back up: bloody, but unbowed.
Carry it
Many people carry it every day. One customer keeps theirs in a protective key carrier; another wrote that they looked up what Invictus meant after the coin arrived, and that “unconquered” is exactly what the world needs more of.
Give it
Customers buy it for whole teams, for veterans and for people coming back from an injury or a hard year. It says something many people find hard to say out loud: I know what you went through, and you are still standing.
Specs
- Diameter: 1.54 in (39 mm), about the size of a silver dollar
- Thickness: 2.7 mm
- Weight: about 1 oz (28 g)
- Material: brass alloy (Antique Bronze, Antique Silver) or solid copper (Antique Copper)
- Made: die struck, minted in the USA
- Each coin is antiqued with a special patina so it looks like it has already been in circulation. The patina never settles the same way twice, so no two coins look exactly alike. Small variations in color and shading are normal, and they are what make your coin one of a kind.
Questions
What does invictus mean?
“Unconquered” or “undefeated” in Latin.
Who wrote the Invictus poem?
William Ernest Henley, in 1875. The coin carries the phrase “bloody, but unbowed” and the final lines, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
What is a good gift for a veteran or a team?
A challenge coin with a message they will keep. The Invictus Coin is one of our most popular coins for teams and service members.
Other coins about resilience
For keys: Invictus Key Tag.
Care: keep it dry and wipe it with a soft cloth. No polishing needed; the aged finish is part of the look.
Original design by EDC Reminder Coins, protected by copyright. We don't take custom orders.
