Germany: Boer War: Cologne / Chamberlain Hanging from Gallows
|
|
|
|
|
Form:
|
Circular
|
|
By:
|
? |
|
Date:
|
1900 |
|
Ref:
|
AM: 150, 151; Hern: 342, 344; ME: Germany 5; Laidlaw: 0228;
|
|
Variations:
|
| Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
|---|
| 36 mm | Silver | | $760 | | 36.1 mm | Bronze | 18.4 gm | $350 |
|
|
Edge:
|
Plain.
|
|
Obverse:
|
Coat of arms of Cologne: double-headed eagle of the Holy Roman Empire holding a sword and sceptre in its talons and over its breast a shield with three crowns and eleven flames. In an arc above, in German: “HEILIGER ERNST KEIN CARNEVAL! (deadly earnest and no carnival)”, and below: “KOLN DEN 1.-6. . DECEMBER 1900 (Cologne 1-6 December 1900)”. Legend on a raised pebbled band: “BEISPIELLOSE VOLKSHULDIGUNG DEM PRASIDENTEN KRUGER VON TRANSVAAL (unequalled homage by the people to President Kruger of the Transvaal)” star at foot.
|
|
Reverse:
|
Across in German: “HEIL / DEM GAUNER / LI HUNGTSCHANG; / FORT MIT KRÜGER / DEM FEINDE DER RÄUBER! / FREIHEIT DIE ICHMEINE (in quotes, line of bots above and below) WIR DEUTSCHE / FÜRCHTEN GOTT UND / ENGLAND! (Hail the rogue Li Hung-Chang; collaborator with the robber enemies of Kruger. ”Freedom as I understand it", We Germans fear God and England"). In the exergue, a small design of a man hanging from gallows. To the left “CHAM-” and to the right “BERLAIN”
|
|
Notes:
|
There are two versions of this medal: a straight brace on the gallows (the silver medal here, AM 150, Hern 342) and a curved brace on the gallows (the bronze medal here, AM 151, Hern 344)
The reverse of this medal is satirical. The medal was issued to commemorate President Kruger’s visit to Cologne. His objective had been to garner support, both moral and financial, for his country’s plight. It was a setback for him and an embarrassment to the people of Cologne that it was here he was informed of the refusal by Kaiser Wilhelm II to grant him an audience, despite the fact that the Transvaal Republic had spent millions of pounds on the purchase of German-manufactured arms for the War. Contrary to the sombre sentiment of the medal, it is recorded that the inhabitants of Cologne gave the President an exuberant and festive welcome.
Li Hung Chang (1823 – 1901) was a Chinese politician and general of the late Qing Empire. During 1900 he played a major diplomatic role in negotiating a settlement with the Eight Nation Alliance (including Germany and Britain) whose forces had invaded China to put down the Boxer Rebellion, a popular uprising by the Chinese masses.
|
