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Great Britain: Boer War: City of London Tribute to City Imperial Volunteers (CIV)
Great Britain: Boer War: City of London Tribute to City Imperial Volunteers (CIV)Great Britain: Boer War: City of London Tribute to City Imperial Volunteers (CIV)
Great Britain: Boer War: City of London Tribute to City Imperial Volunteers (CIV)Great Britain: Boer War: City of London Tribute to City Imperial Volunteers (CIV)
Form: Circular.
By: George Frampton / Corporation of London
Date: 1900
Ref:  Hern: 178,780; BHM: 3684; Eimer: 1848; Fearon: 351.8; Hibbard: A15; Laidlaw: 0047;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
76.5 mmSilverRare
76.5mmBronze225 gm$380
Edge: Plain. Thickness 6.8 mm. Sometimes with the recipient’s name engraved.

Obverse: Londonia in armour seated on a raised dais holding a broad sword in her left hand. Flanking her on both sides, three standing females who salute with a fanfare a CIV soldier standing before Londonia and receiving the freedom of the City. The trumpets are made from elephant’s tusks with a banner showing: “C.I.V.”. In the background, two lines of marching soldiers. In the exergue: “PRO PATRIA / REGINA ET VRBE (for country, Queen and city)”. Towards the right end of the exergue line, in small letters: “GEO. FRAMPTON”. On each side, the design is framed within an oak branch intertwined with ribbons bearing the names of military engagements; on the left branch: “JACOBSDAAL”, “PAADEBERG”, “THABANCHU”, “BRITSTOWN”, “WELKOM”, “ZAND RIVER”, and “TINDLEY”; on the right branch: “DORNKOP”, “FLORIDA”, “DIAMOND HILL”, “PRETORIA”, “FREDERICKSTADT”, “BETHLEHEM” and “WARM BATHS”.

Reverse: In the centre, a small conical-shaped hill on top of which is a flag pole flying the Union flag below which is the CIV standard (Cross of St George; coronet and dagger in first quarter; “C.I.V.” in third quarter). Surrounding the hill at its base, an orderly circle of young oak trees. Standing guard in the foreground, two artillery pieces, facing outwards and, in the background, a large radiant sun. A plaque in the exergue: “THE CITY OF LONDON IMPERIAL VOLUNTEERS / RAISED AND EQUIPPED FOR THE WAR IN / SOUTH AFRICA / BY THE CITIZENS OF LONDON / FORMED DECEMBER 1899 / RETURNED TO LONDON / OCTOBER 1900”.

Notes: Mintage: 550 in bronze and an unknown but very small number in silver.

Comes inside a presentation case. Outside of lid is black with gilded lettering and inside lined with silk with black letting. The medal is held in a fitted holder lined with green velvet, hinged enabling both sides of the medal to be viewed.

The details of the case on the outside of the lid: at the top, the arms of the City of London with motto: “DOMINE DIRIGE NOS”. Below that: “IN COMMEMORATION OF / THE RAISING AND EQUIPMENT OF / THE CITY OF LONDON IMPERIAL VOLUNTEERS (gothic script) / AND THEIR SERVICE IN SOUTH AFRICA / 1899 – 1900 / The Right Hon. Sir ALFRED JAMES NEWTON, Bart. / LORD MAYOR / Sir WILLIAM PURDIE TRELOAR, KNT., ALD / Sir ALFRED HENRY BEVAN, KNT. (above two lines bracketed by) SHERIFFS / CHARLES THOMAS HARRIS Esq. DEPUTY / CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE”.

The details of the case on the inside of the lid: “OBVERSE (large letters underlined) / HERALDS ARE SHOWN WITH TRUMPETS CALLING UP VOLUNTEERS / THE CENTRAL FIGURE REPRESENTS THE CITY OF LONDON, ARMED, GIVING / THE FREEDOM TO A DEPARTING C.I.V. / AT THE TOP THE MEN ARE SEEN MARCHING TO THE FRONT / THE MEDAL IS SURROUNDED BY BRANCHES OF STURDY / BRITISH OAK, ENTWINED WITH A RIBBON BEARING THE / NAMES OF THE PRINCIPAL ENGAGEMENTS IN WHICH / THE C.I.V’S TOOK PART.”

The details of the case on the inside of the back of the case: “REVERSE (large letters underlined) / THE RADIANT SUN OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE / SHINES BEHIND A HILL WHICH IS SURMOUNTED / BY A TALL STAFF FLYING THE UNION JACK / AND THE C.I.V. FLAG. / ENCIRCLING THE BASE OF THE MOUND ARE YOUNG / OAKS, SYMBOLIC OF THE NEW GROWING TERRITORIES. / GUNS TO RIGHT AND LEFT GUARD THE FLAGS. / GEO. J. FRAMPTON, A.R.A.”.