STERLING SILVER 1955 ANDRIES PRETORIUS IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 1838 VOW MEDAL

THIS SOLID SILVER MEDAL COMMEMORATES THE VOORTREKKER LEADER ANDRIES PRETORIUS AND THE GELOFTE THAT WAS MADE IN 1838 BY THE VOORTREKKERS. 
 
THE OBVERSE BEARS AN IMAGE OF PRETORIUS AND STATES "HERBEVESTIGING VAN DIE GELOFTE" (IN COMMEMORATION OF THE VOW).  Signed: W.M. on right of truncation for Willie Myburg from the SA Mint.
 
THE REVERSE BEARS AN IMAGE OF THE "GELOFTEKERKIE" (CHURCH OF THE VOW) IN PIETERMARITZBURG AND BEARS THE FULL SA MINT HALLMARKS. RARE!
 
IT IS CIRCULAR 32,3MM DIAMETER WITH ATTACHED PIERCED LUG. THIS MEDAL WAS COMMISSIONED BY VOLKSKAS BANK TO MARK THE FESTIVAL OF 13TH TO 18TH DECEMBER 1955 HELD IN PIETERMARITZBURG TO REAFFIRM THE VOW. The medals were minted in silver and bronze.
 
Andries Pretorius was a Voortrekker leader who defeated Chief Dingaans Zulu impi regiments at the Battle of Blood River in 1838. Before the battle the Voortrekkers had made a Vow to God that if they managed to defeat the Zulu army they would erect a church in His honour.
The small church on Church Street in Pietermaritzburg was built by the Voortrekkers in 1840 in fulfillment of this Vow. The Church now forms part of the Voortrekker Museum.

MARKINGS:
Three stamps bearing the certification mark of a lions head within the letter U, the letters STG (sterling silver grade mark) and the gothic date letter h indicating 1955 as the year of marking.  The South African Mint use of the acronym SAM as makers mark.
(The year mark was standardised by using a gothic typeface alphabet in lower case, starting with the letter a denoting gold and silver products made in 1948 and concluding the cycle with the letter z in 1973.)
 
SIZE:
Length (incl. pin) : 47mm
Diameter : 32mm
Weight : 17.22 grams
 
CONDITION: IN GOOD CONDITION
 
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