Z.A. Republic: Witwatersrand Agricultural Society Award

Form:

Circular

By:

Date:

1897

Ref:

Laidlaw: 0949a;

Variations:

Size	Metal	Mass	Value
44 mm	Gold	52.2 gm	$3,200
44.3 mm	Copper-Bronze	47.4 gm	$40

Edge:

Plain. Thickness 3.8 mm.

Obverse:

Draped female standing on ground, front, holding laurel wreath in her left hand over kneeling woman on the right offering bowl of fruit. On the left, kneeling man offering wheat sheath. Legend on a raised pebbled band above: "WITWATERSRAND LANDBOUW GENOOTSCHAP" and below between star stops: "S.A. REPUBLIC".

Reverse:

Within wheat-ears left and right and leafy rose at the bottom, across: "TOEGEKEND (in an arc) / AAN / (space for engraving the recipient's name) / 1897 (7 engraved)". Legend on a raised pebbled band above: "FLOREAT" and below between ornaments: "JOHANNESBURG".

This gold medal engraved: "LEWIS & MARKS / MINERALEN ENZ".

This copper-bronze medal engraved: "G. NORTH & SON / ROLLER".

Notes:

The gold medal comes inside a brown fitted cased lined with green silk and green velvet. Emblem in gold on inside of lid: "MEYERS BROS / WATCHMAKERS / & JEWELLERS / JOHANNESBURG".

The Witwatersrand Agricultural Society was instituted 1894. Shows were organised in land adjacent to Milner Park in Johannesburg between 1895 and the start of the Boer War. Paul Kruger opened the first 'Rand Show' where displays of livestock, poultry, dairy products, bees, ornamental plants and trees, farming equipment, and wagons and coaches were exhibited. The Rand Show recommenced in 1907 and continues to be held annually during the Easter holidays. The venue has changed and the nature of the exhibition has become oriented towards family entertainment.

Isaac Lewis and Sammy Marks were cousins and Jewish immigrants from Russia. They came to South Africa in 1868 and became wealthy after starting a diamond-mining company in Kimberley. Lewis & Marks diversified into many successful enterprises in the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. This medal was probably for their metallurgy works which was later to expand into steel fabrication. Sammy Marks is better known among numismatists for the 1898 gold Tickey.

George North was a merchant in farm implements. His first store was opened in Port Natal (now Durban) in 1869. At the time of this award his organization had expanded throughout South Africa. The company G. North still exists today and their branded products are distributed by Northmec who are the leading supplier of farming equipment in South Africa.