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Medal - Sinking of SMS Emden by HMAS Sydney, Australia, 1914
Reg. No: NU 20938
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- Summary:
- Australia
S.M.S. "Emden" (AD)
Mint: Kerr, W.
Other Details: Medal issued to commemorate the sinking of the SMS Emden by HMAS Sydney. Emden was a German cruiser that formed part of the German East Asiatic Squadron early in World War I. It stalked Indian Ocean shipping routes and became the scourge of Allied naval ships. HMAS Sydney surprised the Emden while it was attacking the British radio station on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and badly damaged it. The Emden was deliberately run aground. The Emden lost 134 killed and 65 wounded; the Sydney lost 4 killed and 12 wounded. The medals issued incorporated a portion of the Mexican silver dollars recovered from the Emden. They were presented to the captain of the Sydney, staff on the Cocos Islands, the Admiralty, the Australian War Memorial and other 'approved' Australian museums. The remainder were sold to the public as souvenirs and money accrued above production costs were to go to the RAN Relief Fund. - Acquisition Information:
- Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976
| Discipline: | Numismatics |
More information
| Tagged with: | wars conflicts, world war i 1914-1918 |
| Themes this item is part of: | Public Life & Institutions Collection, Transport Collection, W.J. Amor Mint, Medal Maker, New South Wales, The Royal Australian Navy |
| Primary Classification: | MEDALS |
| Secondary Classification: | Commemorative |
| Tertiary Classification: | military history |
| Series: | Commemorative |
| DateEra: | 1914 AD |
| Obverse Description: | Mexican Eight reales from the wreck mounted under looped crown on NOV 9 1914 / HMAS . SYDNEY . SMS . EMDEN |
| Reverse Description: | Attachment stamped W. KERR / SYDNEY Coin: : Cap of Liberty surrounded by rays of sun, three chop marks- one on cap around below; *8 R.M.1888.M.H.10Ds.20Gs. |
| Edge Description: | Milled |
| Shape: | round |
| Material: | Silver |
| Issued By: | Australia, 1914 |
| Mint: | Amor (Mint), 1914 |
| Ship Named: | Royal Australian Navy (RAN), 1914 |
| References: | Car. 1914/4 |
| Bibliography: |
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Themes
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