Rhodesia: Second Anniversary of Independence, Ian Smith / Matopos |
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| Form: | Circular. Mirror fields and frosted designs. | ||||||||
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| By: | ? | ||||||||
| Date: | 1967 | ||||||||
| Ref: |
Laidlaw: 1183; |
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| Variations: |
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| Edge: |
Plain. |
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| Obverse: |
Barehead of Ian Smith, left. Legend above: "RHODESIA" and below: "1965". Stamped below the head: "SILVER" and "S77". |
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| Reverse: |
View of the Matopos (or Matobo) Hills. Above: "MATOPOS". Legend on a raised band above: "INDEPENDENCE" and below between stops: "ANNIVERSARY". |
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| Notes: |
A similar sized medal also struck in 22ct gold as well as a smaller gold medal. The two gold medals and this silver medal come in a cased set. The obverse design and the style of the medal is similar to Laidlaw 1068a and 1068b. The Matobo or Matopos Hills is an area of granite kopjes and wooded valleys commencing some 35 kilometres south of Bulawayo. The Hills cover an area of about 3100 km² of which 424 km² is National Park. The granite has weathers into fantastic shapes such as the 'balancing rocks' feature. Cecil Rhodes, Leander Starr Jameson, and several other leading early white settlers are buried on the summit of Malindidzimu, the 'hill of the spirits'. Rhodesia declared unilateral independence (UDI) from Britain on 11th November 1965. During Second World War Ian Smith was a fighter pilot who fought for Britain (as did many other Rhodesians). The choice of Armistice Day for the UDI symbolised the bitterness of betrayal that many Rhodesians felt towards Britain. |
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