The 2017 Empire Collection - Monarchs - Gold Proof Set, Coin Set from Saint Helena - detailed information

This set of nine gold proof coins tells the story of The East India Company which built the British Empire in the East, through the most significant Monarchs that ruled during the 274 years of its existence. From Queen Elizabeth I to Queen Victoria, this is a unique collection of coins presented for the first time in a silver proof collection.

“Whosoever commands the sea, commands the trade, whosoever commands the trade of the world, commands the riches of the world and consequently the world itself.”
– Sir Walter Raleigh

From its very first voyage in January 1601, until it was dissolved and absorbed into the British Crown in 1874, The East India Company laid the foundation of the British Empire in the East. Over time "The Company" rose to account for half of the world’s trade including cotton, silk, indigo dye, salt, saltpetre, tea and bullion. It had its own army and navy, its stocks were central to London’s financial markets and at one point it ruled over 400 million people.

The set shows the story of the world’s most famous Company through its coins. The 2017 Empire Collection is a series of nine gold proof coins which tell the story of a band of merchants who created an Empire through the monopoly, privilege and power bestowed on them by the Monarchs that ruled.