Australian Silver Proof Dollars

2000 HMAS Sydney II

.9999 Fine Silver
This limited mintage $1 Fine Silver Proof Coin is an acknowledgment of the 645 crewmembers who lost their lives on 19 November 1941. The HMAS Sydney II was a modified Leander Class light cruiser involved in a number of duties throughout the Mediterranean and around Australia. Mystery surrounded the whereabouts of the cruiser and crew after being involved in a confrontation with German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran, off the Western Australian coast.
On the 17th of March 2008 it was announced that the wreck of HMAS Sydney II had been found the day before, she had suffered very heavy damage and her stern had come away.
The loss of HMAS Sydney II with all hands accounted for more than 35 per cent of Royal Australian Navy servicemen killed in action between 1939 and 1945.
More reading Finding HMAS Sydney II

2000 Australian Silver Proof Dollar Reverse
2000 Australian Silver Proof Dollar Obverse

The details were kept from the Australian public and no explanation was given as to how the Sydney and her full complement had disappeared virtually without trace, while 317 of the 397 men on board the Kormoran, the ship she had engaged in battle were rescued until the information was officially released in the 1957 publication of the official history of the Royal Australian Navy in World War II.
The Royal Australian Mint joined with the Royal Australian Navy to formally launch this coin on the decks of the proud successor of HMAS Sydney II, HMAS Sydney IV, appropriately in Sydney harbour in May 2000.

2000 Australian Silver Proof Dollar Case

Specifications

Composition: 99.99% Silver
Edge: Reeded
Weight: 11.66 grams
Size: 25.0 mm
Reverse: Vladimir Gottwald
Obverse: Ian Rank-Broadley


Main