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This Remarkable Collection of Eight Coins Highlights Some of the Signature Moments in the Pacific Theater During the Second Wo Rld War

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This Remarkable Collection of Eight Coins Highlights Some of the Signature Moments in the Pacific Theater During the Second Wo Rld War This remarkable collection of eight coins highlights some of the signature moments in the Pacific Theater during the Second Wo rld War. As Nazi Germany wreaked havoc in Europe, the Japanese Empire, already at war with China, sought to expand its vast territorial reach. Japan hoped that by attacking the United States, it could convince the Americans to quickly come to terms and allow them free reign in the Pacific. This proved a fatal error, as the U.S. entered the war on both fronts, turning the tide toward the Allies. I. September 22, 1940: Invasion of French Indo-China The French colony of Indo-China, by now controlled by the Nazi puppet regime in Vichy, was attacked by Japan in order to shore up its position against its mainland foe, China; the two Asian nations had been at war since 1937. By seizing Tonkin, Japan was able to effectively tighten its naval blockade of China—and thus use its forces elsewhere in the region. II. December 7, 1941: Pearl Harbor On this “date that will live in infamy,” as President Franklin D. Roosevelt phrased it, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor. The Japanese surprise attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor compelled the United States to enter the war. III. December 8, 1941: Invasion of Malaya Within 24 hours of its attack on the United States, Japan invaded Southeast Asia. After two years of existential war with Germany, European forces could offer only token resistance. British Malaya, in what is now Malaysia, fell to the Japanese, who sunk two British warships on December 10. IV. January 10, 1942: Invasion of the Dutch East Indies As early as 1935, Japanese war planners recognized the importance of the Dutch East Indies— what is today Indonesia—a series of islands rich in oil and other natural resources. By 1942, the Netherlands was occupied by Germany and could not send additional troops. Some four million people died in Indonesia as a result of the Japanese occupation. V. February 1942: Singapore surrenders After the fall of Malaya, the supposedly impregnable British base at Singapore, then known as the Straits Settlements, was taken by the Japanese when 25,000 British troops surrendered, much to Winston Churchill’s dismay. VI. March 31, 1942: Indian Ocean Raid Known in Japan as “Operation C,” the Indian Ocean raid saw the Imperial Japanese Navy overwhelm Allied shipping bases in the Indian Ocean, defeating the British Royal Navy, which retreated to East Africa. After the raid, Japan controlled the Indian Ocean. VII. October 17, 1944: Battle of Leyte Under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, American forces and Filipino guerillas launched an amphibious invasion of the Gulf of Leyte in the Philippines. The victory at Leyte paved the way for the U.S. liberation of the Philippines from three years of Japanese occupation. VIII. August 15, 1945: Japanese Surrender After President Harry S Truman ordered atomic bombs to be dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Soviets entered the war against Japan, Japanese Emperor Hirohito went on the radio to announce his country’s surrender to the Allies, ending the Second World War. The Coins: 1. French Indo-China (Vichy), ¼ cent Coin was minted by the Vichy French government. O: Square surrounds center hole, grain sprigs & date. R: Denomination. FRENCH INDO-CHINA KM25 W: 2.6 g, D: 20.5 mm, Metal: zinc. 2. Japan, 10 sen This 10 sen coin features the chrysanthemum, the imperial emblem of Japan. O: Flower like form, ruler & date. R:Chrysanthemum & value. W:3.75 g; D:22.1 mm; Metal: copper-nickel. JAPAN KM45&49 3. British Malaya 1 cent Coin features the crowned head of King George VI. O: Head of king. R: Value within circle. W:4.3 g; D:20 mm; Metal: bronze. BRITISH MALAYA KM6 4. Netherland East Indies, 1/10 gulden Silver issue from the Dutch Indies—today’s Indonesia. O: Crowned arms divide value. R: Inscription within circle. W: 1.25 g 0.0289 oz ASW; D: 15 mm; Metal: silver. NETHERLAND EAST INDI KM318 5. Straits Settlements, 1 Cent This bronze issue features portrait of King George V. O: Crowned bust of the king. R: Value within beaded circle. W:5.8 g; D:21 mm; Metal: bronze. STRAITS SETTLEMENT KM32 6. British-India, 1/4 anna Bronze issue from India, the “Crown Jewel of the British Empire” features a portrait of King George VI. O: Crowned head of the king. R: Date and denomination. W:4.86 g; D:25.5 mm; Metal: bronze. BRITISH INDIA KM530-531 7. Philippines, 10 centavos This coin features Liberty with a hammer and anvil. O: Female (liberty) standing beside hammer and anvil. R: Eagle with wings open above shield. W: 2 g 0.0482 oz ASW; D: 16.7 mm; Metal: silver. PHILIPPINE KM181 8. United States, penny To conserve copper during the war, the U.S. government minted pennies made of zinc-coated steel. Portrait of Abraham Lincoln. R: Denomination. W:2.7 g; D:19 mm; Metal: zinc coated steel. USOA KM132a Coin images show typical coins, not to scale. Coin grades may vary in the box sets. All coins in each set are protected in an archival capsule and beautifully displayed in a mahogany-like box. The box set is accompanied with a story card, certificate of authenticity, and a black gift box. Box measures: 7.25” x 5.5” x 1.25” Order Code: WWIIPACIFICBOX .
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