Nurse Florence Nightingale

This coin is dedicated to Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

During the Crimean War Florence Nightingale trained and managed a group of nurses to take care of wounded soldiers. The nursing avocation became a profession acceptable for women in the highly traditional Victorian society as a result of her work. She became an icon of Victorian culture, in the persona of "The Lady with the Lamp" making rounds of wounded soldiers at night. In 1860, Nightingale laid the foundation of professional nursing with the establishment of her nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital in London, the first secular nursing school in the world.

This 1 3/4” antique nickel coin features an image of Florence Nightingale reading a book, and the inscription “Florence Nightingale Founder of Modern Nursing” on the obverse. The reverse shows the Rod of Asclepius against the Emergency Services Star of Life enameled in baby blue. Originally designed by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 6 pointed blue Star of Life outlined with a white border is traditionally used in the United States as a certification for ambulances, paramedics and other EMS personnel.  The Rod of Asclepius is a serpent-entwined rod that has become a symbol associated with modern medicine.

Recognize the importance of Florence Nightingale’s contributions by sharing this coin with all those interested in nursing and modern medicine.