Description
Royal Australian Mint – 2017 Battle Of Beersheba $1 Uncirculated Coin
On 31st October 1917 Australian troops from the 4th and 12th Light Horse Regiments stormed the Ottoman defensive positions in Beersheba under artillery and rifle fire. Charging across several kilometres of open land without cover directly into the Ottoman defences they succeeded in defeating the garrison and capturing the town. These great acts of valour were intensified by the fearless displays of nerve from the mounts the Light Horsemen took to battle. These warhorses ran over twice the distance of the Melbourne Cup and hurdled broad defensive trenches to overrun the enemy. Suffering losses of 31 dead and 36 wounded along with many horses the victory was not without its price.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba the Royal Australian Mint has struck a 2017 uncirculated al/bronze $1 along with a 1oz fine silver 5 dollar proof.
Both of these coins represent the fervour of mounted warfare capturing Light Horsemen at full charge across the arid Middle East.
