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Transvaal: Commemoration of Kruger’s Presidency / Raadzaal

Transvaal: Commemoration of Kruger’s Presidency / RaadzaalTransvaal: Commemoration of Kruger’s Presidency / Raadzaal
Transvaal: Commemoration of Kruger’s Presidency / RaadzaalTransvaal: Commemoration of Kruger’s Presidency / Raadzaal
Transvaal: Commemoration of Kruger’s Presidency / RaadzaalTransvaal: Commemoration of Kruger’s Presidency / Raadzaal
Transvaal: Commemoration of Kruger’s Presidency / RaadzaalTransvaal: Commemoration of Kruger’s Presidency / Raadzaal
Form: Circular.
By: Green & Sons, Johannesburg (?)
Date: 1904 (?)
Ref:  AM: 171; Hern: 386; ME: South Africa 9; Laidlaw: 0084;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
38.8 mmWhite Metal (Dull)27.1 gm$190
38.8 mmWhile Metal (Gilt)27.4 gm$250
38.9 mmWhile Metal (Shiny)27.0 gm$210

Edge: Plain. Thickness 4.0 mm

Obverse: The bust of Paul Kruger facing left (as on ZAR coinage). Signed: “G & S” below the bust. On a raised band around, the legend above: “S.J.P. KRUGER, STAATSPRESIDENT DER Z.A.REPUBLIEK” and between stars below: “1883 - 1900”.

Reverse: An oblique view of the Raadzaal (Z.A.R. parliament) Building in Pretoria. In the exergue is the coat of arms of the Z.A. Republic, slanted to the right, with the Republic’s motto: “EENDRAGT MAAKT MAGT (unity makes strength)" on a scroll to the left and right of the arms.

Notes: A curious variety exists in which the maker’s name has been erased from the obverse die (last medal illustrated).

The British formally defeated the ZA Republic in 1900 and President Kruger left for exile in Europe. While the medal clearly commemorates the seventeen years of Kruger’s presidency, the occasion, or purpose, for which it was issued is not known. Because of the similarity of the obverse legend to the “Volksstem Funeral Medal”, it has been suggested that this medal was also a funeral medal, and hence the date of issue would have been 1904.

The Old Raadzaal building is situated on the southern side of Church Square in Pretoria, and was the seat of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek of which Kruger was the President between 1883 and 1900. The building was designed by Sytze Wierda (1839-1911), the chief-architect of the Department of Public Works, and was his most important government project. Wierda came to South Africa from the Netherlands in 1887, and brought modern European architectural ideas with him. The erection of the Raadzaal was the responsibility of John Kirkness. The wood for the furniture and décor came from Norway, and was processed by his father-in-law on the Orkney Islands in Scotland. Sandstone was excavated near the present Pyramid Station and the slate came from the Hammanskraal area. President Paul Kruger laid the cornerstone in 1889. A telephone system was also installed by Lt Paul Constant Paff before alterations in 1892. During the Boer War the building served as a British military hospital. The building was restored in 1989.