Italy WWI RN San Giorgio Armored Cruiser Patriotic Medal 1908 in Silver 800

Italy: WW1 Commemorative medal for the launch 
of the Armored Cruiser RN San Giorgio (name ship 
of the respective class of 2 armored cruisers). 
The medal was circulated in commemoration of 
the launching ceremony of the ship (27 Jul. 1908).
The ship was actually completed in 1910.
Hallmarked 800 for silver purity.
Obverse: RN San Giorgio.
Reverse: Saint George the Dragon Slayer.
Inscribed: Tutor et Ultor (Guardian and Avenger)
The San Giorgio class was a group of 2 armored
cruisers built for the Italian Navy (Regia Marina) 
between 1907 and 1910. 
The class comprised of the armored cruisers: 
San Giorgio and San Marco.
RN San Giorgio ran aground right before the 
outbreak of the Italo-Turkish War of 1911–1912 
and although she was repaired before its end, 
the ship saw no action.
She served during WW1 but she also saw no 
combat action. 
She acted as a royal yacht for Crown Prince 
Umberto's 1924 tour of South America and then 
was deployed to the Indian Ocean to support 
operations in Italian Somaliland (1925–1926).
San Giorgio served as a training ship from 1930 
to 1935. 
She was modernized in 1938 with emphasis in 
anti-aircraft role. In 1940 the ship was transferred 
to Tobruk where she was forced to scuttle herself 
in early 1941 as the British moved in to occupy 
the port. 
Her wreck was used as an immobile repair ship by 
the Allies from 1943 through 1945. 
Salvaged in 1952, she sank while being towed to 
Italy to be broken up.
A scarce medal.

FULL SIZE

1908 - pre World War 1 1914 -1918 

Item 100% original

Condition as on the photos
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