Napoleon’s Angel Coin Collection

Napoleon Bonaparte was born on the island of Corsica in1769. He built an Empire across Europe before his ­final defeat at Waterloo in 1815 which saw him exiled to St Helena, where he lived out his ­until his death in 1821.

In his will, Napoleon had asked to be buried “by the banks of the Seine surrounded by the French people whom I love so dearly” and his wish was ­finally granted in 1840 when his remains were returned to France. Napoleon now lies in a tomb beneath the dome at Les Invalides in Paris, under the watchful gaze of 12 magnificent stone-carved angels.