England: Boer War: Birmingham Tribute Medal
|
|
|
|
|
Form:
|
Circular. Holed for ring and a second for a ribbon. The ribbon is purple on which is embroidered a monogram of the letters “ER” in gold thread. Attached to the ribbon above is a bar with a pin bearing the dates “1899” and “1902” divided by a crown.
|
|
By:
|
H.B. Sale of Birmingham, England |
|
Date:
|
1902 |
|
Ref:
|
Hern: 7758; Hibbard: A4; Laidlaw: 0204;
|
|
Variations:
|
| Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
|---|
| 38.1 mm | Gilded White Metal | 24.0 gm | $100 | | 38.1 mm | Silvered White Metal | 24.0 gm | $100 |
|
|
Edge:
|
Plain. Occasionally found privately engraved with the name of the recipient.
|
|
Obverse:
|
Conjoined crowned busts of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, right. In an arc to the left behind the King: “JUNE 26”, and in front of the Queen: “1902”. Maker’s name: “SALE” below the truncation. Legend on a raised band: “KING ∙ EDWARD ∙ VII ∙ QUEEN ALEXANDRA”.
|
|
Reverse:
|
Coat of arms of the City of Birmingham with coronet and arm and hammer crest supported by Industry (right) and Arts (left). In an arc above: “BIRMINGHAM” and below: “SOUTH AFRICA”. Legend on a raised band: “IN ∙ GRATEFUL ∙ REMEMBRANCE ∙ OF ∙ SERVICE ∙ NOBLY ∙ DONE” with a rose at the bottom. Maker’s name: “SALE” at the foot.
|
|
Notes:
|
On 4th June 1901 the Birmingham City Council resolved to pay tribute to the volunteers from the City who had served in South Africa. The actual presentation of this medal occurred at least a year later after the signing of the Peace of Vereeniging on 31 May 1902.
Birmingham was the home of Joseph Chamberlain, the Colonial secretary during the Boer War, and was also noted for its fine metal work; so it seems somewhat churlish of the Council to have authorised such a cheaply made tribute medal. Worse still, the obverse design of the King and Queen was literally a run-of-the-mill issue because it features on many of the coronation medals produced around the same time.
Some of the recipients chose to improve its appearance and silver coated or plated examples are common. The second illustrated medal is one of these.
|
