RSA (Pre-1994): Battle of Majuba Hill Centenary
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Form:
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Circular
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By:
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Trevor Wood / Gold Reef City Mint (?) |
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Date:
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1981 |
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Ref:
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Laidlaw: 1407;
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Variations:
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| Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
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| 35.2 mm | Copper | 28.1 gm | $20 |
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Edge:
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Plain. Thickness 4.1 mm
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Obverse:
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Two opposing generals in uniform, standing. Boer General Jubert on left, front. British General Colley on right, font head turned to left. Majuba Hill behind. Signed: "TW" at the bottom. Legend above: "GEN. P.J. JOUBERT . BATTLE OF MAJUBA . GEN. P.G. COLLEY" and below between stops: "27 FEBRUARY 1881".
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Reverse:
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At the top crossed rifles and sword, bandoleer and topi. Within a wreath across: "ISSUED TO / COMMEMORATE / THE CENTENARY OF / THE BATTLE OF / MAJUBA / 1881-1981".
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Notes:
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The Battle of Majuba Hill on 27 February 1881 was the final and decisive battle of the First Boer War and a resounding victory for the Boers. 405 professional British soldiers occupying the hill top were defeated by 450 Boers organised into storming parties. General Colley was killed in the action which was seen as a humiliation for Britain.
Petrus Jacobus 'Piet' Joubert (1831-1900) was Commandant-General of the South African Republic from 1880 to 1900. He was in command of the Boer forces during the First Boer War at battles of Laings Nek, Ingogo, and Majuba Hil.
The war was ended by the Pretoria Convention. This peace treaty, signed in Pretoria on 3 August 1881, returned self-government to the South African Republic in the Transvaal under nominal British suzerainty.
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