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Belgium: Antwerp International Exhibition Award

Belgium: Antwerp International Exhibition AwardBelgium: Antwerp International Exhibition Award
Form: Made from several parts: central convex circular piece, ornate cartouche holding central part joined to a suspension bar by two link rings and an ornate ring through the top of the suspension bar.
By: ?
Date: 1894
Ref:  Laidlaw: 1005;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
26.8 mm x 28.2 mm (cartouche)Silver & Gilded Silver9.1 gm (with suspension)$100

Edge: Plain.

Obverse: On the central piece, world globe showing named continents: "EUROPE ASIE AFRIQUE AUSTR". On a diagonal band across: "Mr. VAN BLOCKLAND". Legend on the cartouche above: "EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE D'ANVERS" and below between stars: "1894".

Reverse: Same as the obverse except on the diagonal band: "SECTON. DU TRANSVAAL"

Notes: The Exposition Universelle d'Anvers (Antwerp International Exhibition) was a world's fair held in Antwerp, Belgium between 5 May and 5 November in 1894. The Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek had displays and the highest prize was awarded to the Witwatersrand Chamber of Mines (group 5, class 15) for their mining exhibit.

Jonkheer (title of Dutch nobility) G.H.Th. Beelaerts van Blokland was a Netherlander and diplomat representing the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek in Europe. He was first appointed by President Paul Kruger as an adviser during the 1883 treaty negotiations with Great Britain over the sovereignty of the ZAR. On the conclusion of the treaty he then became Kruger’s official representative for the ZAR in Europe. He was instrumental in the foundation of the Nederlandsche-Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorwegmaatschappij in 1884 which led to the building of the railway line between Pretoria and the Delagoa Bay in Mozambique which was completed 1895. In 1894 the position of Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague was created to which van Blokland was appointed. In this capacity he was presented with the medal here at the 1894 Antwerp International Exhibition where the ZAR had exhibits. Van Blokland died in 1897 before the outbreak of the Boer War.