![HMAS Sydney - SMS Emden Medal, by Kerr, 1918 [WM13RAN-6] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/result_6-EMDEN-3.jpg)
Description
Australia, “H.M.A.S. Sydney – S.M.S. Emden” Commemorative Medal, an unofficial award piece commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy and made by Sydney-based Jeweller William Kerr, with the use of a United Mexican States (Porfiriato period) Silver Eight Reales dated 1892 Pi MR, San Luís Potosí mint (KM-377). Despite a few marks, the host coin has ample visual appeal and is of a higher grade than usually seen, leading us to believe this may have been one those done as ‘presentation’ example that were normally presented in boxes (unfortunately not present here however), near Extremely Fine.
Often referred to as the ‘Sydney-Emden Medal’, this piece is a unique commemorative issue created by the prominent Sydney-based jeweller W. Kerr to mark Australia’s first major naval victory during the First World War and was commissioned in 1918 by the Royal Australian Navy. One thousand Kerr Medals were commissioned and were created with use of the silver coins seized from S.M.S. Emden – these were presented by Captain John C.T. Glossop to the officers and crew of HMAS Sydney who were on board during the battle.
