Medal commemorating the visit of Chiliean ship B.E. Esmeralda

Medal commemorating the visit of Chiliean ship B.E. Esmeralda c1995

Maker unknown

Registration number

1724796

Artist/maker

Maker unknown

Title

Medal commemorating the visit of Chiliean ship B.E. Esmeralda

Production date

c1995

Medium

metal (medal); blue fabric, white fabric, blue felt, metal edge (box)

Dimensions (H x W x D)

6 cm (medal diameter); 0.3 (medal depth); 3.3 x 9.2 x 9.2 cm (box)

Inscriptions

face: ARMADA DE CHILE / B.E. ESMERALDA verso: RECUERDO DEL / XL CRUCERO DE INSTRUCCION On box: MILLED - CHILE On inner lining of box: Milled / CHILE m.6.(?)

Credit line

City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection

Keywords

Melbourne, Chile, B.E. Esmeralda, The White Lady, Ships, Maritime, Medal, 1995

Summary

There are a number of medals that illustrate Melbourne’s maritime heritage that have been gifted to council and form part of the collection. The Chilean ship the BE Esmeralda visited Melbourne in 1995, as part of its 15th training cruise. Nicknamed the White Lady, it has something of a chequered past. The ship was launched on 12 May 1953 and since then has been a training ship for the Chilean navy. But during the regime of Augusto Pinochet, between 1973 and 1980, the ship became a floating jail for political prisoners. This dark chapter in its history means its arrival in port was frequently accompanied by protests and demonstrations. This text is excerpted from Darren Burgess' essay 'City of Melbourne Numismatic Collection', available in full through the 'Explore' tab above.