TOPIC:

Well I have this!


It is the Obverse of an 1896 1 Shilling silver coin. Picked up at a boot fair in Kent, South East England. Didn't appear to be part of a collection as no other coins were being sold, just old cigarette lighters etc. Might be something brought back and then kept in the family.

I would be interested in any information that can be gleaned from it, no real way to date it except that it can't have been made before 1896, or after 1989 when I bought it.

From the few picture I have seen the prisoners didn't wear the arrows on a prison uniform. I am very interested to find out more about the two parallel vertical lines on the cap and repeated on the collar. Could be a part of the uniform or could be the number '11' or initials 'II" or nothing.

Not much to go on but I would appreciate any insight forum members might have.

Kruger is being depicted as a prisoner on this coin just as he was in the eye of the popular press of the period!

Thanks for the response, I did think it might be a political comment along those lines but I was wondering why you would change Kruger's beard if you were trying to depict him personally.

Most of the other Krugers in 'hat and pipe' alterations I have seen keep the full length beard.

The fact that it ended up in England and the prisoner was depicted in British convict garb made me also consider that it was made by an English prisoner.

I have a sweetheart broach once owned by my Great Grandmother. It is an upright horseshoe with the words 'Wilts Regt' & 'South Africa' engraved on it; it is made of silver. Apparently opportunist businessmen would have these made and they would be sold in the street, women could just pick out the one for their husband's Regiment.

Ian

If anyone is interested there is a fantastic book on ebay right now.....

Mike

If anyone is interested here is Volume Two of Pamela Caunt's book on Sweetheart's.....

Mike