GOETZ: K-479 NIOBE

cacheman · January 21, 2005 11:41AM

K-479 THE NIOBE LOST IN A STORM IN 1932, 1932, Cast AE, 83.5mm, Edge-punched “KGoeTz”, Choice UNC, RRR

The training ship Niobe with young naval cadets on board sunk in a severe storm on July 26, 1932. 69 lives were lost. Obverse shows robed mourning woman with Eagle (adler) and the inscription “Pity the loss of the 69 faithful of the Niobe.” The reverse shows the ship in heavy seas with the inscription “Memory of July 26, 1932.”

This piece is also struck in 36mm.

spinaker2000 · January 21, 2005 11:43AM

Now that one I like!!

bosox · January 21, 2005 11:51AM

Wow! Nice coin.

As a young cadet at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy I sailed in the training ship Eagle, a barque very much like the one pictured.

Eagle was built by the Germans in the 1930's and started life as the Horst Vessel. I wonder if they were sister ships?

lordmarcovan · January 21, 2005 11:54AM

AuldFartte · January 21, 2005 12:23PM

That's a beautiful piece, Cacheman

oldshep · January 21, 2005 1:55PM

Three guesses what I think of that one!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wowzers!!
Shep

cacheman · January 21, 2005 2:06PM

I figured I'd be hearing from you on this one Shep...

oldshep · January 21, 2005 2:31PM

Scott - You know I am fascinated with all of the Goetz examples you post - but this one hit a visual nerve

Shep

cacheman · January 21, 2005 2:33PM

Bosox gave me a little info on the ship...can you tell me anything about it Shep?

PuddlePirate · January 21, 2005 2:46PM

Bosox was a "middie" on the Eagle! Whahoo - hope you yakked in the scuppers there mate.

I was supposed to be the RM1 back in 88 but "got selected" for a really fun job in unknown lands down south instead. It was a real bummer I had to compete against about 50 others for that one trip comms job.

The Niobe is most probably the sister ship of the Horst Vessel, I'll check my german naval lists and see what I can come up with.

Its a medal I'd like to add to my collection.

Aethelred · January 21, 2005 2:56PM

The style of the obverse is not up to the standards we expect with Goetz.

cosmicdebris · January 21, 2005 7:21PM

How many does this make now?

theboz11 · January 21, 2005 7:44PM

oldshep · January 21, 2005 11:09PM

Scott - I don't know anything of the ship itself - but now I am curious, hmmmm.
Shep

Udo · January 22, 2005 2:57AM

That's a great one, I like it.

cacheman · January 22, 2005 4:00AM

Now that I have looked a little further into the name of the ship I am led to believe that the female figure on the obverse is Niobe, a tragic Greek mythological character.

Askari · January 28, 2005 2:26AM

The loss of the S.M.S. Niobe -- a rather unfortunate name for a training ship IMHO -- was a national tragedy and shook the German nation. That entire year's midshipman class perished with it. Below you'll find a silver Volksspende-Niobe medal that was sold in 1932 to raise funds for a national memorial, which was built the following year.

GOETZ: K-479 NIOBE

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