Medal "Hands Off"
1902 year| Silver | 29.6 g | 39.5 mm |
| Location | South African Republic (South Africa (pre-Union)) |
|---|---|
| Period | South African Republic (1874-1902) |
| Type | › Medals |
| Year | 1902 |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 29.6 g |
| Diameter | 39.5 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-11-14 |
| Numista | N#404641 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Boer soldier holding flag pointing as injured British lion slinks away
Script: Latin
Lettering:
“HANDS OFF!”
1902
Engraver: Franz Xaver Pawlik
Comment
Laidlaw: 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 medal was issued to coincide with the visit to Europe after the Boer War of Generals Koos de la Rey and Christiaan de Wet who, together General Louis Botha, sought to raise funds for restoring the devastations of the war.
Both sides of this medal were also used on the reverse of medals having the bust of Paul Kruger on the obverse taken Scharff’s original 1900 “ANN DE DAPPERE STRIJDERS” medal.
This medal is usually attributed to Anton Scharff but it seems more likely that it was engraved by his protégé Franz Xaver Pawlik.
