2011 Masterpieces in Silver - Centenary of the Royal Australian Navy HMAS AUSTRALIA (II) card
Designer
Aaron Baggio
Manufacturer
Royal Australian Mint
Date2011
Object number00025989
NameCard
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 80 x 215 mm, 6 g
ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionSix silver proof coins in a custom made case celebrating the Centenary of the Royal Australian Navy. Ships featured are HMA Ships AE2, AUSTRALIA (II), HOBART (II), YARRA (II), SYDNEY (III), and ARMIDALE (II). An information card with a photograph, brief description and illustration of each vessel is included to accompany each coin. 5,000 of these commemorative coin sets were manufactured and sold by the Royal Australian Mint.HistoryThe Royal Australian Navy was named in 1911. After the Federation of Australia in 1901, the Commonwealth Naval Forces was formed by amalgamating the six separate colonial navies. The Commonwealth government, however, paid for the Royal Navy to continue providing naval defence. On 10 July 1911, King George V gave his approval for the Commonwealth Naval Forces to be called the Royal Australian Navy, and for RAN ships to carry the prefix HMAS, His Majesty's Australian Ship. 5,000 of these commemorative coin sets were minted and sold by the Royal Australian Mint.
HMAS AE2 was one of two submarines commissioned in Febrary 1914 and was very involved in World War I. The submarine successfully captured Germany's possession in New Guinea, whilst the crew of AE1 disappeared during the campaign. AE2 entered the sea of Marmara at the same time that ANZAC troops were landing at Gallipoli. After several days in the area, AE2 was attacked by a Turkish gun boat and scuttled. The entire crew survived the attack, althoughs everal men later died in captivity.
AUSTRALIA (II) was a County class heavy cruiser commissioned in 1928 and served in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans during World War II. The ship was repeatedly attacked by Japanese kamikaze aircraft during the Philippines Campaign in 1944-45 and many lives were lost. The cruiser survived the war and remained in service until 31 August 1954.
HMAS SYDNEY (III) was converted from a light fleet aircraft carrier to a fast troop transport in 1961-62. The ship completed two tours of duty in the Korean War, but is most commonly remembered for its role during the Vietnam War. Dubbed the 'Vung Tau ferry' by veterans, SYDNEY completed 24 round trips to Vietnam during the war.
HMAS YARRA (III) was commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy on 27 July 1961. The ship served for 24 years, which included attachments to the Far East Strategic Reserve during the Indonesian Confrontation in 1963-66. there have been four vessels named HMAS YARRA to serve in the RAN since the beginnings of the RAN
HMAS HOBART (II) was the second of three American Charles F Adams class guided missile destroyers ordered for the RAN in the 1960s. The destroyer was commissioned on 18 December 1965 and was deployed on three separate occasions for service during the Vietnam War. HOBART served for thirty-five years and was decommissioned in May 2000.
HMAS ARMIDALE (II) is a patrol boat commissioned in 2005 and the crew generally participate in border control duties. Named after the first HMAS ARMIDALE a minesweeper that was sunk during World War II, after being attacked by enemy aircraft on 1 December 1942. During the action Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean remained at his post as the ship went down.
SignificanceThis coin set is an example of the type of commemorative mementoes produced to celebrate the 100th anniverary of the Royal Australian Navy, recognising a century of service by the Royal Australian Navy in the defence of Australia.