A 1930 Dedication Plate from H.M.S. Curacoa Constansa

Silver, weighing 101 grams, centrepiece of the plate is a 1757 Portuguese 30 Tari coin, held tightly in place by a silver restraining ring, the coin illustrating the crowned arms of the Grand Master Emmanuel Pinto (1741-1773, 68th Grand Master) of the Knights of St. John of Malta and the of the Order itself in an ornate frame, surrounded by the inscription "F. EMMANVEL PINTO - M.M.H.S.S. 1757" on the obverse, reverse illustrating St. John planting a banner in the ground with his right hand, a Paschal lamb at his feet to the left, inscribed "NON - SURREXIT MAIOR" above, with only "MAIOR" visible, the remainder of the inscription covered by the aforementioned restraining ring, the coin surrounded by the engraved inscription "MAJOR F.A. SAMPSON FROM W.R. OFFICERS H.M.S. CURACOA CONSTANSA AUG. 1930." in the well of the plate, raised base marked "800" (silver) with three hallmarks (Order of St. John and two others), 97.5 mm, light contact. tarnishing on the both sides of the rim, wear evident on the inset coin, better than very fine. Footnote: On 2 October 1942 about 60 km north of the coast of ireland she was escorting the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary carrying 10,000 American troops to join the Allied forces in Europe. Queen Mary was steaming an evasive zig-zagging course; eight minutes to starboard, eight minutes to port then the resumption of her base course for four minutes before starting the cycle again, which the aged Curacoa could not match due to deterioration of her engines.Curacoa was hard pressed to keep pace with Queen Mary as it was and her Captain opted to forego the zig-zag so as to be able to maintain a position from which to provide effective anti-aircraft watch. At 2:15 PM the Queen Mary started the starboard turn for the first leg of her zig-zag, cutting across the path of the Curacoa with insufficient clearance, striking her amidships at a speed of 28 knots and cutting her in two. The Curacoa sank in six minutes, about 100 yards from the Queen Mary.