Moneta
Registered: August 2005
Location: Arizona USA
Posts: 2,365
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Skeleton (as Death) standing left within ticket booth, queue of passengers to the left. Lettering: GESCHAFT VBER ALLES; KOG; Translation: business above all. Engraver: Karl Goetz initials in exergue. REV: KEINE BANN WARE, DER GROSSDAMPFER, LUSITANIA, DURCH EIN DEUTSCHES, TAUCHBOOT VERSENKT,
5 MAI 1915
Translation:
No Contraband!, the liner Lusitania sunk by a German submarine. Engraver: Karl Goetz
Entering passenger service with the Cunard Line in 1907, the Lusitania continued the line’s heavily-traveled service between Liverpool and New York City. After the outbreak of World War I, however, relations between Great Britain and Germany diminished, as the two became enemies within the conflict. This lead to Germany’s declaration of submarine warfare upon the British Isles and a ‘no-sail zone’ for any vessel flying the British flag. On 7 May 1915, the Lusitania was identified by a German U-Boat, torpedoed, and sank in 18 minutes, killing over 60% of the passengers. The vessel went down 11 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, and instantly became an iconic symbol for American involvement into the now global conflict.
Case of the United Kingdom restrike: German type a and d have a diameter of 57mm whereas the British medals have a diameter of 55mm.
An American copy from the time also exists, a Japanese copy has been made in the 70's and other modern museum reproductions and modern couterfeits also exist. [Numista.com]
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