Replica of the RMS Lusitania Sinking Medal in Original Propaganda Box

This is a historically significant replica of the RMS Lusitania sinking medal, complete with its original propaganda box. The medal and accompanying packaging were created as part of the Allied propaganda campaign during World War I, making it a powerful artifact of wartime sentiment and public relations strategy.

The original medal was designed in Germany in 1915 by Karl Goetz, a renowned German artist, to criticize British wartime policies. Goetz intended to highlight Britain's alleged use of the Lusitania to transport munitions while endangering civilian lives. His original medals were cast in iron and bore highly detailed engravings, including inscriptions in German.

After the Lusitania tragedy on May 7, 1915—when a German U-boat sank the British liner, killing 1,198 of the 1,951 passengers and crew aboard—the original medals became infamous. The sinking provoked outrage across the Allied nations, and British propaganda forces capitalized on the event. They commissioned replicas of the German medal to highlight German "barbarism" and distributed them widely to generate public support for the Allied cause, especially in neutral countries like the United States. These replicas were packaged with explanatory text, such as the one found in this example, which describes the medal as evidence of Germany's wartime cruelty and lack of regard for civilian life.

This replica medal retains the imagery from the original, including:

• Obverse: The sinking Lusitania, with passengers plunging into the water, surrounded by detailed inscriptions in German criticizing the British government's actions.
• Reverse: A crowd of skeleton-like figures at a ticket office, with an inscription mocking British propaganda and its recruitment efforts.

The accompanying propaganda box adds incredible historical context, explaining the intent behind the replica’s production and its distribution. It emphasizes how the medal was used to convey the Allies' moral outrage and to rally support against the Central Powers.

Condition:
The medal shows light wear, consistent with age, and retains sharp detail on both sides. The original box has some scuffing and wear but remains intact, with its label and explanatory text fully legible. The medal and box together serve as a vivid reminder of the propaganda battles fought during World War I.

This item is a genuine historical replica from the period, produced for Allied propaganda efforts, and not one of Karl Goetz's original German medals. However, its importance as a tool of wartime propaganda and its rarity as a complete set with the original box make it a highly desirable collector's piece.

This artifact offers a unique perspective on the Lusitania tr