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Great Britain - 1900 - Boer War - National Commemorative Medal
Absent Minded Beggar
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White Metal medallion
Weight: 33.9 grams
| By: |
F. Bowcher / Spink & Son, London |
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| Date: |
1900 |
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| Ref: |
AM: 26; Hern: 68; BHM: 3680; Eimer: 1851; Fearon: 351.7; Laidlaw: 0043a; |
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| Variations: |
| Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
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| 45 mm |
Silver |
59.1 gm |
$210 |
| 45.0 mm |
White Metal |
33.9 gm |
$70 |
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| Edge: |
Plain |
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| Obverse: |
Full figure of a British soldier with rifle at the ready standing on rocky ground, head bandaged
and helmet at his feet. To the right: “1899- / 1900”. Legend: “THE NATIONAL COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL”.
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| Reverse: |
To the left, a flag pole with the Union flag wrapped around an ear of wheat entwined with
the national flowers of England (rose), Scotland (thistle) and Ireland (shamrock). To the right
across: “THIS / MEDAL COM- / MEMORATES THE / MAGNIFICENT / RESPONSE OF / BRITAIN’S SONS /
TO THE EMPIRE’S / CALL TO ARMS! / TRANSVAAL / WAR / 1899-1900”. Legend above and to the left:
“THE QUEEN GOD BLESS HER”, and below: “DAILY MAIL KIPLING POEM”.
The maker’s name: “SPINK / & SON” in small letters close to the rim on the left.
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| Notes: |
The The sentiment in Britain at the outset of the South African War was strongly in favour of the military
action. Thousands of young men volunteered for service to “Queen and Empire”. Charities were set up to
assist them and their families. The proceeds from the sale of this medal went to Daily Mail for the Kipling
Poem War Fund which is reported to have received 70,000 pounds sterling in fourteen weeks.
The image of the British soldier on the obverse is from the illustration by Richard Caton Woodville, Jr. (1856-
1927) known as the “Gentleman in Kharki” and can be seen on a multitude of memorabilia from the period. |
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Generic Images
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