Towards the end of 1940 the British Steam Ship Gairsoppa sailed from Calcutta loaded with 7,000 tons of iron, silver and tea. She was sunk on 17th February 1941 by a German U-Boat with only one member of the crew surviving. To commemorate the recovery of the silver from the S.S. Gairsoppa the Royal Mint released a limited issue Britannia 50p silver coin struck in solid fine .999 pure silver recovered from the S.S. Gairsoppa. This 2013 strike was issued for the US market in tubes with an issue limit of 150,000.