Day: May 13, 2025

The SS Tilawa, often called the ‘Indian Titanic,’ was a British India Steam Navigation Company ocean liner torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on November 23, 1942, in the Indian Ocean. Of the 963 passengers and crew on board, 280 tragically lost their lives, and 60 tons of silver bullion sank to the ocean floor. Originally purchased by the Union of South Africa to be minted into 2025 PURE SILVER 5 oz. Britannia SS Tilawa Coin coins, this precious silver remained lost for decades until the wreck was discovered in 2014, with a daring salvage operation bringing it to the surface in 2017.

After more than 80 years beneath the sea, the historic silver bullion has finally been transformed into five-ounce .999 fine Silver Britannia coins, minted by The Royal Mint. Each coin bears a special SS Tilawa privy mark—a ship’s anchor flanked by ‘1942,’ above ‘SS TILAWA,’ all enclosed in a circle. This exclusive mark certifies its origin from the Tilawa’s precious cargo, making it a one-of-a-kind collectible for investors and history enthusiasts alike.