Medal commemorating the Battle of Jutland, 1916. Obverse: An upright anchor entwined with two laurel wreaths enclosing the names of Jellicoe and Beatty and above, a naval crown. By Harold Stabler. Repro ID: E4278-1 ©National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, LondonThe naval crown (made up of alternate sterns and topsails) can be traced back to the Romans when a crown ornamented with a design of the 'rostra' or beak heads was awarded for bravery and was known as the 'Rostral Crown'. It can be seen on certain British Naval medals at the end of the 16th century. One of the earliest examples of the naval crown in practically its present form, is that which appears above the Arms of Greenwich Hospital dating from about 1700. The decoration however, is wholly of square sails without the interspersed sterns.

During the 18th century, the naval crown in its present form was often used by heralds when granting Arms to naval officers. Lords Nelson, Collingwood and Northesk added the crown to their coats-of-arms. Today it surmounts the badges of Royal Naval ships. The Merchant Navy adopted the naval crown in 1918 with the introduction of their official uniform.