Great Britain: Boer War: Queen Victoria & Three Generals / Victory Liberty and Peace

Form:

Circular

By:

James Fenton, Great Hampton Street, Birmingham (according to the “J.F” maker’s mark on the silver medal) / Daniel George Collins, Newgate Street, London (as marked on box).

Date:

1900

Ref:

AM: 33; Hern: 82; Laidlaw: 0722;

Variations:

Size	Metal	Mass	Value
38.1 mm	Silver	24.2 gm	$350
38.1 mm	Bronze	20.1 gm	$220
38.2 mm	Gilded White Metal	12.8 gm	$185
38.2 mm	White Metal (Holed)	12.8 gm	$25

Edge:

Plain. Silver medal, sometimes engraved.

Obverse:

Four cameo images within ornate rounded rectangular frames. In the centre, the crowned bust of Queen Victoria, facing left, above: “QUEEN & EMPRESS”. At the top, bareheaded bust of Lord Roberts in uniform, facing half left, above: LD ROBERTS. V.C.” On the lower left, bust of General Buller in uniform and cap, facing front, above: “GEN BULLER. V.C.”. On the lower right, bareheaded bust of General Kitchener in uniform, facing half right, above: “LD KITCHENER”. To the upper left between Roberts and Buller, sprigs of laurel and: “1899” on a ribbon. To the upper right between Roberts and Kitchener, sprigs of laurel and: “1900” on a ribbon. At the bottom, on a scroll: “SOUTH / AFRICA”.

Reverse:

Winged Victory, flying right and looking backwards, trumpet horn in her left hand and an olive branch in her right. Below, an artillery piece and a pyramid of three rifles. Mountains behind. A blank exergue, except on the silver medal, which has the maker's mark: "J.F." and Birmingham hallmarks for 1899-1900. Legend on a raised band: “. VICTORY . LIBERTY . AND . PEACE .”. An ornament at the foot.

Notes:

Sometimes it would appear that this medal was used in lieu of a prize medal at sporting events held (prematurely) to celebrate the end of the Boer War.

An example of the silver medal exists, which is lightly engraved on the edge in cursive script. The workmanship is rather poor and difficult to read in parts: “W. Rung(?) 100 yds Flat Race. Queenstown (gap) July(?) . 3 . 1900(?)”

The gilded medal example comes in a red cardboard box embossed on the outside: “MANUFACTURING / MEDALLIST & SILVERSMITH / D. George Collins (diagonally in underlined cursive script) / 95 & 96 / NEWGATE ST. / LONDON”. On the inside of the lid is printed: “SOUTH AFRICA WAR / (wavy line) / COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL / Won at the / RAVENSBOURNE / SPORTS AND / PATRIOTIC CONTESTS, / June 30th, 1900.”. Nothing is known about this event.