1914 HMAS Sydney SMS Emden Silver Dollar
On the 9th November 1914, the Royal Australian Navy entered its first engagement off the Cocos Keeling Islands with German light cruiser SMS Emden. After a one and a half hour battle, the Emden was run onto a reef and suffered 131 casualties and 65 wounded.
Approximately 6000 Mexican silver 8 reales were recovered from the wreck. Sydney jeweller, William Kerr was commissioned to strike and assemble 1000 commemorative medals using the 8 reales with the intention of presenting them to all officers and ratings aboard Sydney at the time of the Cocos Battle.
- HMAS Sydney SMS Emden
- Nov 9, 1914
- Mexican Silver Dollar 1854 P.F
- Reverse chopmarks
- Mounted by W.Kerr Sydney
- Very FINE