WW1 British Copy of the German Lusitania Propaganda Medal made to Commemorate the Sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915

Here on offer is a WW1 British copy of the German Lusitania propaganda medal made to commemorate the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915.

The Lusitania medal refers to a German commemorative medal by Karl Goetz, originally satirizing the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915, but mistakenly dated "5 Mai" (May 5th) instead of May 7th.

The British government capitalized on this error, mass-producing replica medals with accompanying leaflets to fuel anti-German propaganda, claiming it proved premeditated murder and raising funds for the war effort by selling them as proof of German atrocities.

Alternatively, the medal can be read as Goetz's critique of the passenger ship company placing profit above the safety of its passengers by disregarding German U-Boat warnings in newspapers.

Around 300,000 British copies were made, many of these financed and sold by Gordon Selfridge, the department store owner.

The cast iron medal depicts on the obverse a starboard bow view of the ship sinking, while the reverse shows Death at the Cunard shipping office selling tickets, to a queue of people, for the voyage.

This example is in excellent condition, retaining the detailing of the images.

It measures 2.2” (5.6cm) diameter and weighs 78g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

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Code: 52144