HORNREICH COLLECTION of World and U.S. Historical Medals Including So-Called Dollars
AM-115, H-260, ME-Neth 7, Laidlaw-0051, Paul Kruger

Owner Comments:

Medal, 1900, AE, PAUL KRUGER, South Africa, President Paul Kruger (1825-1904), 75th Birthday, Bronze Medal, 1900, by Anton Scharff, bearded bust, head turned three quarters left, rev legend amongst entwined oak and olive branches, 39.5 mm (CMZAR115). Obv. Head and shoulders of Paul Kruger, front and slightly to the left. On the left: “PAUL / KRÜGER / PRESIDENT”, and on the right: “DER / ZUID / AFRIKAASCHE / REPUBLIEK / 10 OCT. / 1825”. Signed: “A. Scharff” on the left above the shoulder. Note that the he letter “N” is missing from “Afrikaansche”. Rv. Branch of an oak tree with leaves and acorns intertwined with a branch from an orange tree with leaves and fruit. Amongst the foliage is the text on eight lines: “AAN DE / DAPPERE STRIJDERS / VOOR / REGHT / EN / VRIJHEID / 1899- / 1900 (to the brave fighters for justice and freedom)”. At the foot, close to the rim, is a frame containing a lamb, left. History and Significance: The medal was commissioned by Barron Bachhovon von Echt, an Austrian sympathetic with the Boer cause. The small lamb on the reverse is from the von Echt coat of arms. The proceeds from the sale were to go towards the support of dependents of Boer soldiers killed or wounded in battle. The issue of the medal was intended to coincide with Kruger’s 75th birthday on 10th October 1900. Ironically on that day Kruger was in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique, awaiting the ship that would take him to exile in Europe. As to the medallist: Anton Scharff (1845-1903) was the Chief Engraver of the Austrian Mint in Vienna. He was born in Vienna and was the son of the medallist Michael Scharff. He studied at the Vienna Academy and from 1862 learned engraving under David Boehm at the school attached to the Vienna Mint. He was appointed assistant engraver at the mint in 1866 and became engraver in 1868. He became director of the school of engraving in 1881 and court medallist in 1887.