Obverse: Starboard broadside view of the ‘Huascar’ under sail and steam, rays above, the ship’s name on a tablet below: ‘HUSCAR’
Legend: ‘TRIUNFO SOBRE LA ESMERALDA . IQUIQUE EL 21 DE MAYO DE 1879’
Translation: Triumph over the Esmeralda. Iquique, 21 May 1879
Reverse: Inscription (within a rope border) ‘LAS SEÑORAS DE LIMA AL VALIENTE Y ESFORZADO CAPITAN DE NAVIO DE LA ARMADA PERUANA. DN. MIGUEL GRAU’
Translation: ‘The ladies of Lima to the valiant and courageous Captain Miguel Grau of the Peruvian Navy’ with an anchor above the name. The principals in the action were the ‘Huascar’, ironclad of Peru, and the ‘Esmeralda’, corvette of Chile. The latter (Captain Prat) finally sank after being rammed.