The sinking of the Lusitania
Medallion
ca. 1916 (made)
ca. 1916 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This medal commemorating the 'Sinking of Lusitania' is made after the German medallist Karl Xaver Goetz, in England in ca. 1916.
Goetz (1875-1950) is best known for his satirical and propaganda medals cast in bronze and iron during World War I, such as that portraying Crown Prince William as Young Siegfried (1915).
Copies of Goetz’s Lusitania medal (1915) were produced in Britain as evidence of German callousness, causing the Germans to forbid its production in 1917.
The replicas made in Britain and the US were produced as anti-German propaganda outlining their cruelty. They were issued by the 'Lusitania Souvenir Medal Commitee' of 32 Duke Street, London.
The British blockade of Germany led to increased German U-boot attacks on civilian as well as armed vessels. On 7 may 1915 the Lusitania was hit by two German torpedoes and sunk with the loss of 1,198 lives.
Karl Goetz then struck this satirical medal, depicting Death as skeleton, selling tickets.
Goetz (1875-1950) is best known for his satirical and propaganda medals cast in bronze and iron during World War I, such as that portraying Crown Prince William as Young Siegfried (1915).
Copies of Goetz’s Lusitania medal (1915) were produced in Britain as evidence of German callousness, causing the Germans to forbid its production in 1917.
The replicas made in Britain and the US were produced as anti-German propaganda outlining their cruelty. They were issued by the 'Lusitania Souvenir Medal Commitee' of 32 Duke Street, London.
The British blockade of Germany led to increased German U-boot attacks on civilian as well as armed vessels. On 7 may 1915 the Lusitania was hit by two German torpedoes and sunk with the loss of 1,198 lives.
Karl Goetz then struck this satirical medal, depicting Death as skeleton, selling tickets.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
|
| Title | The sinking of the Lusitania (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Iron |
| Brief description | 'The sinking of the Lusitania', after Karl Xaver Goetz, c.1916, iron, England. |
| Physical description | "The sinking of the Lusitania" medal with its box and accompanying leaflet. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by James Morton |
| Object history | Given by James Morton in 1999. |
| Summary | This medal commemorating the 'Sinking of Lusitania' is made after the German medallist Karl Xaver Goetz, in England in ca. 1916. Goetz (1875-1950) is best known for his satirical and propaganda medals cast in bronze and iron during World War I, such as that portraying Crown Prince William as Young Siegfried (1915). Copies of Goetz’s Lusitania medal (1915) were produced in Britain as evidence of German callousness, causing the Germans to forbid its production in 1917. The replicas made in Britain and the US were produced as anti-German propaganda outlining their cruelty. They were issued by the 'Lusitania Souvenir Medal Commitee' of 32 Duke Street, London. The British blockade of Germany led to increased German U-boot attacks on civilian as well as armed vessels. On 7 may 1915 the Lusitania was hit by two German torpedoes and sunk with the loss of 1,198 lives. Karl Goetz then struck this satirical medal, depicting Death as skeleton, selling tickets. |
| Associated object | A.5-1994 (Copy) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.1:1-1999 |
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| Record created | August 5, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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