They are the best of the best: Special Forces soldiers, who are called for operations that do not only require courage and drive but skill, logical reasoning and many years of training. CIT dedicates the third issue of its successful series “Real Heroes” to all special forces of the free world and, in particular, to those of the United States. The coin was minted in the B. H. Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt in Munich. The special technique smartminting© gives the minting an ultra high relief. In addition, the coin is finished with a partial color printing and microminting.
Description of the Coin
Special Forces soldier with helmet and mirrored visor in front of a honeycomb pattern, mouth and nose covered with cloth; in the left field REAL / HERO in micro minting, below a stylized guardian angel; on the edge the incuse inscription DE OPPRESSO LIBER (= to free from oppression).
The other side features the silhouette of a Special Forces operation: two soldiers secure the territory in the foreground while a helicopter drops off other members of their unit, two more helicopters are approaching from behind; below the incuse inscription ONLY THE BRAVE ARE FREE and the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley (initials IRB); around it ELIZABETH II – 20 DOLLARS – COOK ISLANDS – 2022.
Background
The mere process of becoming a member of a special forces unit is an adventure. In the US, for example, the Green Berets receive several thousand applications every year. Only about 400 of them even get the chance to prove themselves in a tough selection process, and only 3 to 5% get through. After a long training period, they are finally sent on their first mission. Extensive training is necessary because the main requirement for these men and women is to be level-headed, remain emotionally stable and act like team players in highly stressful situations, so that they can make rational decisions.
Whether it be the German GSG9, the Swiss Argus or Austria’s Cobra – almost every army has specially trained units today. They are deployed when things get tough and every single soldier needs to think strategically: in terrorist attacks, hostage situations or the fight against organized crime.
CIT dedicates the third issue of “Real Heroes” to all members of special forces. The issue’s most important detail is the legend on the left of the edge. It reads DE OPPRESSO LIBER – the Latin motto of the United States Army Special Forces. According to US tradition, the translation reads “to free from oppression” and is thus the only legitimate reason to wage a war in a civilized world: to defend freedom against tyrants.
Further information about the coin, visit the CIT website.
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