2024 SS Tilawa Shipwreck – Glory; Voyage Edition Silver Round.
“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven.
In keeping with the observance of Remembrance Day this November 11th, 2025 I have the opportunity to post this special silver round that reminds us civilians were also casualties of war. The attack on SS Tilawa and her sinking was a relatively little known incident, a mere footnote in the course of World War 2 until she was discovered in 2014 by Advanced Maritime services under contract by Argentum Exploration Ltd.
Last year’s 12 Days of Christmas I posted this SS Tilawa silver round as a Wish Item to add into my Shipwreck Silver collection and thus prompting my dive into this obscure moment in history. This round has not been easy to find and no retailer had imported this into Canada with the reason being, not a very popular topic or theme to sell into a small and price competitive market. Until this silver round appeared on the website of a new local web retailer I discovered just this September.
A few accounts written in a single Narrative form
November 23rd, 1942 three days out of Mumbai (Bombay) under the cover of darkness the S.S. Tilawa continues to steam south to her destination of Durban South Africa. The moon is bright in the clear night sky revealing the lone passenger ship made vulnerable on the open sea. Anxiety haunts many of the passengers, current events of war naught the thoughts of most passenger and crew alike. The Allied merchant naval operations have been suffering heavy losses according to Commonwealth news services and the specter of a prowling hostile submarine hung heavy in the air. The ship maintaining a blackout did little to ease everyone. The crew and staff constantly assure the passengers that the ship does have four gunners for protection and all will be well. Their body language said otherwise.
Later that evening a Muslim student with his companions studying in India was trying to get some rest and hopefully some sleep until he heard an eerie whistling sound followed by a loud bang. Shaken, his body overwhelmed by a survival instinct and ran for safety forgetting his companions.
The crowded decks of people turned into a mass of confusion, chaos and panic.
The first lifeboats were filled with the crew and launched out into the rough waters of the Arabian sea leaving the remaining to fend for themselves.
There wasn’t enough lifeboats as the ship slowed to a stop.
Two young Indian brothers made their way into one of the few remaining lifeboats, there was only one life jacket, the elder brother pushed the jacket into the younger one’s arms, “You take it, I’m the expert swimmer, I will be fine!” As the lifeboat was lowered, one of the tackle failed to disengage tossing everyone into the dark swirling waters below. The semi-conscience boy was yanked out of the water by the collar of the life jacket into a raft. He never saw his elder brother again.
Bonus silver coin
Back on the Tilawa desperation reigned as mothers and fathers put their children into the hands of strangers of what room was left in the few remaining lifeboats and choosing to stay aboard. It was heartbreaking to see.
After some time and putting some distance from the stricken Tilawa, some of the crews in the boats pondered on returning to the ship. She was still afloat and could be saved if they could limp her to the nearest port for repairs. An attempt to re-board the ship was just underway when a second torpedo struck her port side. The explosion violently shook the ship, the Tilawa’s structure moaned and cracked, the stack now belched black smoke, then in minutes the ship slipped under the surface.
For at least two days, the life boats were at the mercy of the rough unforgiving sea. The survivors endured nausea, sickness and the cold elements. Only a barrel of potable water was available for each boat but the conditions were so bad nothing could be kept down. Most boats were swamped with seawater making any headway impossible even if they knew what direction to go.
On the morning of third day following the sinking of the SS Tilawa the HMS Birmingham spotted the lifeboats after responding to the Tilawa’s distress call. The Carthage followed up a few days after for further survivors.
Casualties; 28 of 222 crew, and 252 of 732 passengers.
The purpose of the SS Tilawa 1942 commemorative website is to raise awareness, collate information and news about the SS Tilawa and bring some closure to the families of the victims of this tragedy. They will not be forgotten.
According to an account by a survivor, overheard in a discussion by crew members of the HMS Birmingham that the Japanese attacked the Tilawa because she carried a ‘Treasure’ of 80 tons of silver. Also, prior to the arrival of the HMS Birmingham was the presence of an unknown ship that came to document the tragedy and location but did not attempt any rescue, ignoring the survivors.
A little Suspicious? 🤔 I think so.
For now, to my Commonwealth friends, have a fine Remembrance Day.
My American friends, a fine Veteran's Day.
Remember; "Freedom is never free."
And thanks for dropping in.
Previous Shipwreck Silver Collection Posts.
1874 cc American Trade dollar – SS Japan Shipwreck Silver coin.
2023 1622 Atocha Fantasy 8 Reales Cob.
1774 Mexican Colonial 2 Reales – El Cazador.
1102 – 1106 10 Cash Bronze Northern Song Dynasty coin.
10 Troy oz. Gairsoppa Shipwreck Silver Bar.
Stacking Precious metals and Crypto for those dark stormy days!
References & Sources
Tilawa1942 Commemorative website.
SS Tilawa.com. Commemorative website.
Photos are my own shot with an ancient 2018 Samsung SM-A530W or otherwise indicated.
P. Image under Pixabay
W. Wiki Commons
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That’s a sweet piece Kerris….
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These will have a place of memorial with my Shipwreck collection.
I hope you enjoyed a peaceful Veteran's day @silverd510
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"Captain Teraoka Masao of the Japanese Imperial naval submarine I-19 'Matso', your doctor is here to treat you." The commanding officer of the submarine that sunk the SS Tilawa. Neither he or Japan has made an official apology for this attack on civilians.
FYI
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Such a tragic story of the sinking of the SS Tilawa !🙄
Glad you found this round to add to your stack to always remember this horrific war time event!
The odd thing was that there was very little information publicly available around this tragedy. Other than brief news publications many of the survivors and their families kept to themselves, few individuals left memoirs and diaries mention this in their past.
Until the discovery of the Tilawa, and with the valuable silver recovered that the public took interest. The founder of the SS Tilawa memorial website is a descendant of one of the survivors. He hopes that more families could use his Web hub to establish a community, to remember the victims and bring some closure to the families.
It was fitting that the South African mint and the Royal Mint also struck their own privy coins; 2025 Krugerrand SS Tilawa Privy and 2025 Britannia SS Tilawa Privy, though I'm not sure if they used the recovered silver for them.
Thanks for the comment @silvertop
!HUG
Owning a silver coin minted from the recovered silver, would be like owning a piece of history!!😇
Definitely a coin I would never sell!!😇👍😀
This silver round is an exclusive product from LPM thought some websites claim are a product of Silvertowne. Ther is no mention of SS Tilawa on the Silvertowne site.
LPM does have the certificates as proof that the silver used was from the TIlawa. A better end to the story would be IF the South African mint donated some of the silver to commemorate the tragedy but they kept it instead.
There is LPM's other version; 2024 SS Tilawa Shipwreck Remembrance: Sinking Fate 1 Troy oz. 999 Fine Silver Round. There are also 1 oz. and 10 oz. bar as wella s in a carded shot form.
"A better end to the story would be IF the South African mint donated some of the silver to commemorate the tragedy but they kept it instead."............
Of course it always comes down to money, they were just thinking of themselves unfortunately!!🙄
They're so cheap that they refused to tip Argentem (Note the company name) a finder's fee, not that they deserved it since there was evidence that they intended to conceal their recovered loot. South Africa should consider themselves lucky to be granted ownership. The silver wasn't insured or this would have been more under UK Insurance company ownership.
Oh, how fortunes change.
Such a sad and tragic story! I cannot comprehend the loss of those parents remaining behind to save their children!
Thanks for sharing sis! It is a lovely piece with nice detailing. Take care and have a lovely evening! Much love!🤗💜 !LADY !LUV
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The Lusitania came to mind as the parallel tragedy involving civilian war causalities. Germany argued that the American Passenger liner was carrying war material to England and wrote numerous American newspaper articles warning the public not to book travel on the Lusitania. Japan may not be a signatory of the Geneva convention but where is the common sense human decency of avoiding civilian targets. The blame has to rest at the feet of the Japanese leaders. The victims have yet to get an official apology.
That's history, tragic as it is, worse when we don't learn from it.
Under the President Biden administration, I was almost convinced that my Prime Minister Trudeau was planning conscription of one or both my sons to fight in the Russo-Ukraine war in the near future. I am relieved that Trump became president and removed that possibility. I will not have my Sons fight a politically contrived war for the elites.
Thinking and protecting like a Mom!
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As you should my dear sister! Take care and enjoy the rest of the evening! !LUV
I hope you had a reflective peaceful Veteran's day Sis.
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“A little Suspicious? 🤔 I think so.”
Suspicious indeed! 👀
!LADY !PIZZA
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It was clear that that MR. Hyatt's company intended not to report the recovery of the silver especially when his company Argentum took steps to conceal this from the proper authorities. (Didn't do all his homework). There was no escaping the markings of the bars when questions were asked. The whole case of ownership had it's own dramatic twists and turns.
However, I wondered how the Japanese know about this silver? Where they hoping to capture the ship? It was a ship under an enemy's flag and denying the enemy of it's resources makes it fair game in their eyes. Who tipped them off? Was there a neutral party involved like some big bank?
This just the tip of the myriad of questions around the sinking of this ship.
🤔
Thanks for dropping by @geneeverett
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That one on the left of the top picture looks really cool.
Is it handmade or an old coin?
I am glad you asked @ferngully
This an old Indian silver Rupee coin hand minted under the Mughal Empire.
The Victorian British India Rupee is based on the Mughal Rupee. 0.917 in Silver. I cannot read the elegant language nor identify the name of the Ruler of when it was minted under but it is definitely Mughal Empire.
Other notes; I think this coin was cleaned. And possibly a modern replica of the original. I never did get these old coins electronically verified.
I hope I've answered your question sufficiently.
!PIZZA