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How to Buy a 1915 Lusitania Medallion

The Lusitania, a British ocean liner returning to Liverpool from New York in May 1915, was sunk by German torpedoes. Of the 1,198 people killed, 128 were American. Germany claimed to have given fair warning of the risks of traveling aboard British ships and that a cargo of war munitions on board justified the attack. The Lusitania Medallion, first issued in August 1915, was a German propaganda medal satirizing American outrage and blaming the British for the tragedy. Three versions of the medallion exist. There are two German versions and a British copy.

Instructions

- 1
  Identify the original medallion. German medallist Karl Goetz designed the original two medals. The first version is easily identified because of an error in the date. The Lusitania sank on May 7, 1915, but Goetz mistakenly inscribed 5 MAI 1915 in German. London's Imperial War Museum has comprehensive information and detailed pictures of the medal on its website. The mistake was rectified, there are few remaining examples, making it difficult to buy. The Imperial War Museum and the British Museum both have originals online for viewing. Copies are available, though, and some even have the wrong date on them. Prices vary according to date, provenance and originality, but range from $15 for a copy to more than $500 for an original first issue.
- 2
  Study the second version of the medallion. See the full description and photographs at the Imperial War Museum website. After realizing his mistake, Goetz corrected it and issued new medallions with the correct date. According to the Imperial War Museum, the second issue can be identified because "the dimension of the flan ... tends to be thinner than that of the original." While nobody knows how many medallions were issued, there are more of these on the market. Consult sites such as the Coin Doctor and Worthpoint for information on availability and value.
- 3
  Identify the British version. Sites such as J.K.Militaria sell a variety of military medals including the Lusitania Medallion British first issue. Expect to pay around $150 for a decent copy. Confirm that it is a British copy by checking the date. It will be inscribed in English with 5 MAY 1915, and there are no umlauts over the German writing.
- 4
  Make contact with collectors worldwide. Find the medallion you want online and expect to have to buy it from a collector abroad. The Antique and Collectible Emporium in New Zealand, for example, periodically has Lusitania medallions on for sale and will ship anything you buy.

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