Head and shoulders of Paul Kruger, front and slightly to the left. Across 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 letter “N” is missing from “Afrikaansche”.

Branch of an oak tree with leaves and acorns intertwined with a branch from an
orange tree with leaves and fruit. Amongst the foliage across: “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, a lamb, left, within frame.

The medal was commissioned by Baron Bachofen 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.

No campaign medals were issued to Boer soldiers until 1920.

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.