Summary

The Three Counts von Spee medal, Germany, 1914, by artist Karl Goetz.

Medal commemorating Maximilian von Spee and his two sons, Heinrich and Otto, who all perished in the Battle of the Falkland Islands in December 1914.

Obverse Description

Facing busts of the three counts; around above, "HEINRICH MAXI-MILIAN OTTO"; in exergue, "GRAFFEN VON SPEE / AVFDER SCHARNHORST DER VATER ADMIRAL / VNTER SEINEM KOMMANDO EIN GESCHWADER / KLEIN AN DER ZAHL / etc"; on bust truncation at right, "K. GOETZ".

Reverse Description

An eagly flying above the South Atlantic near the Falkland Islands bearing a laurel branch; around above, "8 DEZEMBER 1914".

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Public Life & Institutions

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    1914 AD

  • Issued By

    Germany, 1915

  • Artist

    Karl Goetz, Germany, 1914

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse inscription: "HEINRICH MAXIM-ILIAN OTTO / GRAFEN VON SPEE / AVF DER SCHARNHORST DER VATER ADMIRAL / VNTER SEINEM KOMMANDO EIN GESCHWADER / KLEIN AN DER ZAHL / DER AELTERE SOHN AVF DER GNEISENAS LEVTNANT / OTTO AIS SOLCHER AVF DER NERNBERGSTAND / BEIDEN FALKLANDSINSELN AVF HOHER SEE / LIEGEN DEVTSCHE HELDEN LIEGEN / DREI GRAFEN SPEE" Artist's name at right near shoulder "K. GOETZ". Reverse inscription: "8. DEZEMBER 1914".

  • Series

    Historic Medals

  • Material

    Bronze

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Medals, Commemorative, Military history

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Overall Dimensions

    103 mm (Outside Diameter)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    References: [Link 1] accessed Aug 2014.

  • Keywords

    Wars & Conflicts, World War I, 1914-1918