These were in the trove of a friend who recently died. Can anyone here tell me what in the world the silver item is?
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This was squirreled away with the silver one. My friend was a great collector of Imperial German Navy stuff. Any comments are welcome as my job now is to look after his family's interests. -
It appears to be a commerative of the battle between the SMS Emden
and the HMAS Sydney that took place on Nov.9 1914.
Why it says Republic of Mexicana is beyond me.
From what I found on wikipedia, the Emden spent it's time as a
raider in the Indian ocean.Comment
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...and I imagine the coin was for the cantine on board the SMS Emden. I think there were two ships with that name, so I'm not sure which yours would have been from. Neither survived the war.Best regards,
Streptile
Looking for ROUND BUTTON 1939 EK1 Spange cases (LDO or PKZ)Comment
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Actually there were a total of five. The second Emden was awarded the
Iron cross. Only the second ship to recieve that honor.
The internet is a wonderful thing
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I don't have my books handy but I think this is a unofficial medal commemorating the capture of the SMS Emden by the HMAS Syndey in 1914. Once the ship was captured and boarded a quantity of Mexican Silver dollars was discovered. These were used to make the unofficial medals and given to the crew of the Sydney.
"The Emden was a fast light cruiser and was used as a commerce-raider played havoc attack with British shipping until caught and destroyed by the HMAS Sydney of the Cocos Islands (700 miles south-west of Summatra) on November 9, 1914."
According to "British Medals and Battles" by Spinks and Sons, 1000 coins were converted to medals with another 996 sold to the public to cover the cost of the free distribution to the crew.
The medal is unofficial and could not be worn on a uniform.
Cheers,
GregComment
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The cantine coin should come only from one of the both light criusers "Emden" (1908 or 1915) because you find "S.M.S." (Seiner Majestät Schiff - His Majesty Ship) written on it.
Other - later - EMDEN ships could not be named "S.M.S." because the last German Emperor/Majesty was Wilhelm II whose reign ended 1918.
GerdanComment
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bit late but that is a mexican reales that was used before the peso!very intresting medal type thing!!
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Commemorative medal, sinking of the German S.M.S. Emden by the HMAS Sydney, off the Cocos Islands, on November 9, 1914. Silver 1878 Mexican dollar (8 reales) converted into a medal on authority of the Defence Department by Sydney jeweller W. Kerr and issued in 1918. Obverse: eagle on cactus holding snake surrounded by issuing country
Worth in the region of A$2000
Oh and its a good one http://www.noble.com.au/auctions/vie...ot=5061&suffix=Last edited by leibregiment; 07-06-2010, 06:02 PM.Comment
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Thank you all very much.Comment
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