Honestly? Spend it. Or, better yet, tape it to a greeting card and send it to a friend with a note that says, “This is the most confusing war memorial you will ever own.” But if you want to be a historian, do this: stare at the soldier’s face. He’s got a mustache. That mustache is historically accurate—most British soldiers in WWI wore them. But on a coin, it makes him look like he’s about to ask you for directions to the nearest trench in a very posh accent.
And remember: every time you jingle that coin in your pocket, you’re not just jingling metal. You’re jingling a tiny, brass-and-nickel story of a world gone mad, a nurse with great bandaging skills, and a cannon that looks like it escaped from a video game. It’s a little bit silly, a little bit sad, and entirely, gloriously British. Now, go check your couch cushions. Freedom is in there, hiding under a lint ball.
