SA Union: Johannesburg Empire Exhibition: Building / Ox Wagon
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Form:
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Circular. Bronzed medal has attached lug.
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By:
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E. Naylor, Royal Mint at Pretoria
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Date:
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1936
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Ref:
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AM2: 226; Laidlaw: 0031;
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Variations:
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Size
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Metal
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Mass
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Value
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32 mm
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Silver
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$30
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32.1 mm
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Bronze
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12.2 gm
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$7
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32 mm
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Bronzed Base Metal
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$5
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32 mm
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White Metal
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Edge:
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Plain
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Obverse:
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Facade of the Government building at the exhibition flying the Union flag. In an arc above:
“RYKSTENTOONSTELLING - 1936”. Below that, across: “EMPIRE / EXHIBITION”. In the exergue:
“EX . UNITATE . / . VIRES .”.
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Reverse:
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Ox wagon pulled by four oxen moving to the right through the veldt; man with whip and dog
trotting alongside. Mountains and radiant sun in the background. Signed just above the exergue
line: “E.N. (left) R.M.P (right)”. In an arc above: “JOHANNESBURG - 1886”. In the curved exergue:
“EENDRAGT MAAKT / MAGT”
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Notes:
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Johannesburg hosted the Empire Exhibition, held in Milner Park between September 1936 and
January 1937. Milner Park (now part of the University of Witwatersrand) is the home of the annual
Witwatersrand Agricultural Society Show, first opened by Paul Kruger in 1894. The exhibition coincided
with the City’s Golden Anniversary. The centrepiece of the layout of gardens, buildings and pathways
was the 200 feet tall “Tower of Light” which could be seen at night from anywhere on the Rand.
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