SA Union: Visit by Edward, Prince of Wales, to South Africa
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Form:
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Circular with pierced hole for a ring to a second for a red-white-blue-white-red corded ribbon.
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By:
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Sydney March / Royal Mint / Pretoria Mint (?) |
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Date:
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1924/5 |
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Ref:
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AM2: 185; Laidlaw: 0293;
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Variations:
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| Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
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| 36.5 mm | White Metal (1924) | 18.8 gm | $25 | | 36.5 mm | White Medal (1925/4) | | $25 | | 36.5 mm | White Metal (No Date) | 15.5 gm | $25 |
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Edge:
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Plain.
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Obverse:
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Crowned and robed bust of the Prince, left. Legend: “H.R.H. PRINCE (left) OF WALES. (right)”.
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Reverse:
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At the top, the Prince of Wales Plumes with motto: “ICH DIEN”. Within a wreath of heath across: “VISIT / TO / SOUTH AFRICA / 1924”. Two varieties exists. In the second image the date 1924 has been altered to 1925 by over-punching the 4 with a 5. In the third image the date has been completely erased.
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Notes:
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The visit to South Africa was originally planned for 1924 but was postponed until 1925. It is reported (AM2) that dies were prepared in 1924 by the Royal Mint from designs by Sydney March with the intention of sending them to Pretoria for minting and issue to school children. It is conjectured that the dies were indeed sent to Pretoria where an initial minting was undertaken. When the visit actually took place these medals were released with some individually altered to show 1925. Subsequently there was a second mint run with the date erased.
Edward, Prince of Wales (1894-1972) was the eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary. Edward became King Edward VIII when his father died in early 1936. He abdicated in December of that year in favour of marriage to the American divorcee Wallis Simpson. His younger brother then became King George VI.
Between 30th April and 29th July 1925 the Prince toured Southern Africa. On a Royal train provided by the South African Railways, he visiting Cape Province, the Orange Free State, Basutoland, Natal, Transvaal, Swaziland, Southern & Northern Rhodesia and the Bechuanaland Protectorate.
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