PDFPrintE-mail

Z.A. Republic: Inauguration of President Kruger for the 4th Term

Z.A. Republic: Inauguration of President Kruger for the 4th TermZ.A. Republic: Inauguration of President Kruger for the 4th Term
Form: Circular
By: Delfos Brothers, Pretoria, South Africa
Date: 1898
Ref:  AM: 16; Hern: 40; ME: South African Republic 5; Laidlaw: 0208;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
54.7 mmSilvered Base Metal76.0 gm$300
54 mmBronzed Base Metal
54 mmGilt

Edge: Plain. Thickness 6.3 mm

Obverse: Withing an encircling cable, bust of Paul Kruger, left. Legend: “STEPHANUS JOHANNES PAULUS KRUGER”. The maker’s name: “DELFOS.” at the foot.

Reverse: Across: “HERINNERING / ANN DE / INZWERING / ALS / PRESIDENT / DER / Z.A. REPUBLIEK / TE / PRETORIA (Commemoration of the swearing in of the President of the Z.A. Republic at Pretoria)”. Within a toothed border: legend above: “VIERDE ACHTEREENEENVOLGENDE VERKIESING (fourth successive election)” and below between stars: “MEI 1898”.

Notes: President Kruger was inaugurated for his fourth consecutive (and last) term on 12th May 1898.

One of the gilt medals, suspended from an elaborate brass chain, was presented to the President but it was not to his liking, and he rejected the tribute.

The medal was produced by Gebroeders Delfos of Pretoria, a general engineering business established in 1892 by two brothers Cornelis and Johann Delfos. During the South African War the company manufactured munitions and other products to support the war effort for the Transvaal Republic. The company still exists today under the name Atlas Copco South Africa (Pty) Ltd.