Germany: Boer War Satirical: Kruger / King Edward Weeping
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Form:
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Circular with and without attached loop.
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By:
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A de Rivet / W. Fleischhauer. Königl, Bayr Hoflieferant, Halle, A/S |
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Date:
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1902 |
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Ref:
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AM: 122; Hern: 278; ME: Germany 8; Laidlaw: 0238;
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Variations:
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| Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
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| 35.4 mm | Silvered Bronze | 19.9 mm | $400 | | 35.4 mm | Bronze | 20.5 gm | $350 | | 35.3 mm | Gilt Bronze | 20.0 (loop) | $350 |
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Edge:
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Plain.
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Obverse:
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Within a wilted wreath of thistle (left) and thorn (right), bareheaded bust of a forlorn Paul Kruger in jacket, half right. In large script: "Fides (faith)" below the truncation. Background on right: woman keeling with hands hands raised pleading with a British soldier, a child and a corpse beside her; behind a burning farmhouse and in the foreground a destroyed waggon. Legend: “DEN GERECHTEN HAT GOTT LIEB,” (God loves the just). At the foot: “1899”.
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Reverse:
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Within a laurel wreath, bareheaded bust King Edward VII in uniform, half left. In large script: "Spes (hope)" below the truncation. In the right background, a battleship and small ship at sea, sun behind with rays extending behind the King's head. On the left, teardrops falling from the tip of the wreath turning into coins as they descend into a pile. Legend: “DEN SEGNET ER! (He is blessed!)". Four rifles tied at the bottom of the wreath marked: “A”, “D”, “R” and “F” on the butts. At the foot: "190?".
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Notes:
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This is a German satirical medal dramatising the plight of the Boer nations at the hands of the mighty British Empire. The letters on the rifle butts are possible an appeal to the neutral countries of America (A), Germany (D), Russia (R) and France (F) for some kind of intervention to help bring about an end to the conflict.
Esterhuysen reports a silver medal inside a case with the maker's name. Hern also reports a silver medal. It is possible that these medals were not silver but silver plated bronze.
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