2$ Wojtek the Soldier Bear

The Wojtek the Soldier Bear coin tells a heartwarming story of a Syrian brown bear who became a beloved member of the Polish army during World War II. In 1942, Polish soldiers in Iran found and adopted an orphaned bear cub, naming him Wojtek. He quickly became everybody’s favorite, eating, drinking, playing, and getting some well-deserved sleep with other human members. 

Wojtek was officially enlisted into the Polish armed forces and traveled to Italy, where he took part in the tough Battle of Monte Cassino. The presence of a friendly bear was a morale boost, but it was elevated even higher when Wojtek made himself useful by copying other soldiers carrying heavy ammunition crates. 

After the war, Wojtek was sent to live at the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, reminding everybody about loyalty and the unique bond between humans and animals in times of hardship. 

This fascinating story is depicted on a delicate 2-dollar, 1-ounce silver coin, full of nice details and touches. One can see the ruins of Monte Cassino, B-25 Mitchell and Avro Lancaster bombers, and even an ML 3-inch mortar. Most importantly, Wojtek himself left his footprint on the obverse!