1 Crown - Elizabeth II 1993

Weight

28.28 g

Diameter

38.8 mm

Thickness

NA

Material

Copper-nickel

Shape

Round

Edge Type

Reeded

Technique

Milled

Front design

Right facing uncouped bust of Queen Elizabeth II, wearing the George IV State Diadem, legend and date around

Back design

HNLMS Isaac Sweers

Year of Minting

1993

Queen

Elizabeth II (1952-2022)

Mint location

(PM) Pobjoy Mint , Surrey, United Kingdom (1965-2023)

Mint mark

NA

Orientation

Medal alignment ↑↑

Inscriptions

Obverse: ELIZABETH II GIBRALTAR · 1993 RDM PM Reverse: 1 CROWN WARSHIPS OF WORLD WAR II HNLMS Isaac Sweers

Context

The story of this Dutch destroyer and her courageous crew is inspirational despite its tragic ending. Under construction when the Germans invaded, she was towed to England for completion. She was part of Operation Halberd - a force of 26 allied ships taking 9 desperately needed transports to Malta in September 1941-and later, heading for Alexandria, she and 3 British destroyers put 2 Italian cruisers out of action. Seconded to the East Mediterranean Fleet, she saw a lot of action escorting convoys to Malta; at one point saling into the burning sea around stricken destroyer HMS Gurka (she put her bow close enough to attach a tow) to save all but 10 of the crew. After a spell with the Eastern Fleet, she was back in the Mediterranean for Operation Torch when she met the fate from which she had saved the Gurka. Just after oiling off Oran, she was hit by 2 torpedoes from U-431. Engulfed in flames, she lost more than 110 men out of 190.

Rarity

Rare

Coin type

Non-circulating

In circulation

Yes

Demonetized

No

Marketplace listings

0