2010 Royal Australian Mint - Australia Remembers - Lost Soliders of Fromelles - Uncirculated 20c Carded Coin

Description

Features

• Part of the Australia Remembers Series 
• Struck to the RAM's uncirculated standard 
• Mintage of 37,848
• Packaged in a black and white card, depicting two soldiers, with one carrying the other

Details

The Royal Australian Mint continues its Australia Remembers series by commemorating the Lost Soldiers of Fromelles. The battle occurred in France on July 19-20 in 1916. Fromelles was a combined operation between British troops and the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). It would be the first occasion that the AIF saw action on the Western Front. The Australian War Memorial describes the battle as "the worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history."  Known as Australia’s bloodiest day, during the 1916 battle the 5th Division suffered 5533 casualties. There was speculation for many years regarding the existence of an unmarked and forgotten mass grave near Fromelles, containing the remains of Allied soldiers killed during the battle and subsequently buried by the Germans.

In 2007, a non-invasive geophysical survey, commissioned by the Australian Government, was conducted by Glasgow University Archaeological Research Department (GUARD). The survey gave readings consistent with pits containing the remains of hundreds of soldiers. A subsequent metal detector survey led to the discovery of Australian Army artefacts at the site. Ninety two years after the battle, a mass grave of British and Australian Soldiers was rediscovered in Pheasant Wood, a portion of the soldiers missing in action. After an identification process, our lost soldiers will be laid to rest with dignity and full military honours in individual plots at a new War Cemetery, situated as close as possible to where the soldiers were found. 

Specifications

• Denomination: 20c
• Metal Content: CuNi
• Mass: 11.30g
• Diameter: 28.52mm
• Finish: Uncirculated 
• Packaging: Coin is housed in a white card with a black bottom edge, and two soldiers in focus on the front. A red poppy sits in a pop of colour in the the top right hand corner. The back has tall red poppies on a white background

Please Note: These are second-hand collectables and may contain scratches, creases, marks, toning or other minor damage. Feel free to ask for photos before purchasing.