South African Medallions

[Anthony03]

Hi- I have this large Coronation 55mm diameter medallion which is dated the 9th August 1902 .The peculiarity is the imprinted name on the rim.It is named " 30281 P.D. SERFONTEIN SOUTH AFRICA" Any assistance would be appreciated.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Hello - Anthony. Welcome to GMIC - as I have mentioned before our Sth. African members keep growing - soon, we mount a coup..... So, look out Nick. Although sometimes I think you'd be glad to get rid of us ?

Very unusual medallion - I've not previously seen one with just the Queen Consort's head. Being a Coronation medallion I would have expected Edward's head as well. The way the inscription is written it would seem to be a service number, his name and the initials PD. Could this be Police Department - unlikely, we don't often use the word Dept. in association with Police. Prison Department - a possibility. But with the Queen's head can you think of a womens' organisation with those initials ?

Let's hope someone has some background ?

p.s. - just a a thought - isn't Serfontein a town ?

Edited October 24, 2010 by Mervyn Mitton

[Brian Wolfe]

Hello Anthony,

I'd like to add my welcome to the forum as well.

While my input is more of a comment to Mervyn's post I hope it may help in the quest for the answer to your question.

I did a very short search on the internet for "serfontein" and it came up as a sir name. That would make sense especially with the initals P D and in the light of Meryvn's comment that it would not be Police Department. My first though was, provided Serfontein was a town, that PD was something like a Postal District but finding only submissions on the interenet stating this is a sir name I am left with the impressin that this is a name of a person.

A very interesting medallion and I wonder if this was part of a pair, the other with King Edward on it. What is on the reverse?

Regards

Brian

[Arthur R]

Hello Anthony, and welcome to the forum.

I'd think that 'P.D. Serfontein' was the recipient's name and 30281 a service number of some kind. Question is: which service? It being such a high number, I'd guess a permanent force such as the Cape Mounted Riflemen, the Cape Police, or the Natal Police.

There's are web pages about this medallion at: http://www.medallion...nmedallion.html

and http://darwincountry...deb42e1c5b5cd64

[Mervyn Mitton]

I've just had another look at the rim picture and after P.D. - it looks like South ? So, perhaps a pair - as Brian suggests and as Arthur says perhaps a district for a serving unit ?

[Anthony03]

I've just had another look at the rim picture and after P.D. - it looks like South ? So, perhaps a pair - as Brian suggests and as Arthur says perhaps a district for a serving unit ?

Hi Mervyn and all who helped with the reply. Thank you for the welcome. It has the obverse with Prince Albert and the south is "South Africa". It definitely looks like a force number. Mervyn -what did you think of that Cape of Good Hope Convict police pic I sent you yesterday.

B.T.W. Anthony is a Pseudonym for Alf Boyley..

[Anthony03]

Hi Mervyn and all who helped with the reply. Thank you for the welcome. It has the obverse with Prince Albert and the south is "South Africa". It definitely looks like a force number. Mervyn -what did you think of that Cape of Good Hope Convict police pic I sent you yesterday.

B.T.W. Anthony is a Pseudonym for Alf Boyley..

Sorry King Edward on the obverse.

[Anthony03]

Hello Anthony, and welcome to the forum.

I'd think that 'P.D. Serfontein' was the recipient's name and 30281 a service number of some kind. Question is: which service? It being such a high number, I'd guess a permanent force such as the Cape Mounted Riflemen, the Cape Police, or the Natal Police.

There's are web pages about this medallion at: http://www.medallion...nmedallion.html

and http://darwincountry...deb42e1c5b5cd64

Hi Arthur-Many thanks- I think that you are closer to the mark but as you say. which service and why?

Cheers

Alf

[Anthony03]

Hello Anthony,

I'd like to add my welcome to the forum as well.

While my input is more of a comment to Mervyn's post I hope it may help in the quest for the answer to your question.

I did a very short search on the internet for "serfontein" and it came up as a sir name. That would make sense especially with the initals P D and in the light of Meryvn's comment that it would not be Police Department. My first though was, provided Serfontein was a town, that PD was something like a Postal District but finding only submissions on the interenet stating this is a sir name I am left with the impressin that this is a name of a person.

A very interesting medallion and I wonder if this was part of a pair, the other with King Edward on it. What is on the reverse?

Regards

Brian

Thank you very much Brian. The P.D. and lettering are identical to an impression on a QSA but there are lots of unanswered question.

Cheers

Alf

[Mervyn Mitton]

Alf - under whichever name - it is a pleasure to have you with us on the Forum. For the benefit of members I should say that Alf ran the Police Force in a South Coast town in Natal - and later, was the Town Clerk. I believe Alf , you are now retired in the Cape ?

With regard to the medallion, I think the rarity is it having an official issuing and naming around the rim. I have never seen that on such a scale for a medallion. Perhaps some more info. will come to light.

The catalogue of the badges was quite exceptional - whoever bought them - I 'hate' them..... See if you can separate the Convict badge and start a thread under Brit. & Commonwealth Police - about the closest for Prisons. Give some history and then I will add my two rare Robben Island helmet plates. Mervyn

[Anthony03]

Alf - under whichever name - it is a pleasure to have you with us on the Forum. For the benefit of members I should say that Alf ran the Police Force in a South Coast town in Natal - and later, was the Town Clerk. I believe Alf , you are now retired in the Cape ?

With regard to the medallion, I think the rarity is it having an official issuing and naming around the rim. I have never seen that on such a scale for a medallion. Perhaps some more info. will come to light.

The catalogue of the badges was quite exceptional - whoever bought them - I 'hate' them..... See if you can separate the Convict badge and start a thread under Brit. & Commonwealth Police - about the closest for Prisons. Give some history and then I will add my two rare Robben Island helmet plates. Mervyn

Hi Meryn- Thanks for that - I will try and separate that item and who knows another may see the light of day.Alf