Summary
8 Reales coin, Mexico, 1880 AD. Recovered from the German light cruiser SMS Emden after being defeated in a battle with HMAS Sydney, in the Battle of Cocos, November 1914.
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. It lost 134 killed and 65 wounded; the Sydney lost four 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.
Obverse Description
Eagle holding snake whilst perched on catcus.
Reverse Description
Liberty cap set against starburst pattern.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976
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Date Issued
1880 AD
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Date of Event
1914
Date recovered from wreck -
Other Association (See Comments)
SMS Emden (Light Cruiser), Imperial German Navy, 1914
Relic from the shipwreck of the Emden, sunk by HMAS Sydney off Cocos Island on 9 November 1914, during World War I. -
Issued By
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Denomination
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Material
Silver
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Diameter
2 (Depth), 39 (Outside Diameter)
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Shape
Round
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Keywords
Naval Battles, Wars & Conflicts, World War I, 1914-1918, Shipwrecks