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The 62g silver medal is a William Harvey Commemorative Medal awarded by the South African Blood Transfusion Service (now the South African National Blood Service) for a donor's 50th blood donation.
Medal Details
Weight: Approximately 62 grams (other variations around 56g to 59g exist).
Material: Stamped "SILVER" or ".925 Silver".
Diameter: Typically 48 mm.
Obverse (Front): Features a bust of William Harvey (15781657), the physician who first correctly explained blood circulation, within a laurel wreath.
Reverse (Back): Features the emblem of the Blood Transfusion Services, with concentric arcs of text in both English and Afrikaans. It includes a space for engraving the donor's name and the year of the donation.
Historical Context
This particular silver medal was a high honour and was primarily issued up until around 1970, when it was replaced by a bronze version, which was later replaced by a plated base metal medal. The medal is a collectible item, often found for sale through online auction sites.
Modern donor recognition programs in South Africa and elsewhere now often use different awards and systems, including the "Medal for Life" for over 200 donations in Singapore, and digital badges or other tokens of appreciation in the UK and Canada. South African law prohibits financial or other rewards for blood donations, focusing recognition on commemorative items.
