The Waterloo 200 organisation has produced 500,000 replicas of medals that were awarded to Waterloo soldiers two centuries ago. When the medals were originally issued, they were the first from the British Government to be given to all soldiers who fought in the battle, regardless of rank.
Waterloo 200, the government-backed body overseeing the anniversary, has been funded by the London Mint Office to create the bronze replicas. The first 37,500 will be individually numbered, to represent the soldiers who fought in the battle and received the medal.