SOLOMON ISLANDS
REIGN OF ELIZABETH II (1952-PRESENT) - HOUSE OF WINDSOR
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA
GRADED BY NGC PROOF 67 ULTRA CAMEO
OBV: ELIZABETH II, CROWNED HEAD RIGHT.
REV: WITHIN CIRCULAR BORDER A LIFEBOAT WITH SAILORS FOREGROUND, U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIER LEXINGTON ON FIRE WITH CREW ABANDONING SHIP FROM ROPES INTO LIFEBAOTS BACKGROUND.
KM # 39
THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR, PIVOTOL NAVAL ENGAGEMENTS OF WORLD WAR II. THE BATTLE WAS FOUGHT IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, MAY 4TH THROUGH THE 8TH, 1942, BY SEA AND AIR FORCES OF THE ALLIED AMERICAN AND AUSTRALIAN FLEETS AND THE JAPANESE IMPERIAL NAVY.
NEITHER JAPANESE NOR ALLIED SHIPS EVER SAW ONE ANOTHER DURING THE BATTLE, THE FLEET ACTION CARRIED OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME BETWEEN CARRIERS AND THEIR AIRCRAFT, EXCHANGING AIRSTRIKES AT SEA.
THE ALLIED TASK FORCE ENGAGED THE JAPANESE FLEET IN RESPONSE TO THE JAPANSES INVASION OF NEW GUINEA AND THE SOLOMONS.
VICE-ADMIRAL FRANK J. FLETCHER, WAS COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN CARRIER AND ALLIED NAVAL TASK FORCE THAT OPPOSED THE JAPANESE OFFENSIVE.
BOTH SIDES SUFFERED HEAVY LOSSES. THE JAPANESE LIGHT CARRIER SHOHO AND THE AMERICAN FLEET CARRIER LEXINGTON WERE AMONG THE VESSELS LOST.
ALTHOUGH A TACTICAL VICTORY WAS GAINED BY THE JAPANESE, THE STRATEGIC ALLIED VICTORY STOPPED THE JAPANESE INVASION AND EXPANSION EFFORT, PAVING THE WAY TO THE ALLIED VICTORY OVER THE JAPANESE FLEET AT THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY.
CONTAINS 31.21 GRAMS OF .999 FINE GOLD (1.0024 OZS AGW)
32.7 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 500 MINTED!
