Commemorative Medals, British Empire, Meyer & Charlton Gold Mining

Commemorative Medals, British Empire, Meyer & Charlton Gold Mining Co Ltd, The Re-Opening of Gold Mining Industry Transvaal, May 4th 1901, gold medal, unsigned, the mine's headgear and wheel, rev. legend in 7 lines, 38mm. 31.23gms (Laidlaw 0580), choice mint state and exceedingly rare
The Meyer and Charlton gold mine was on the outskirts of Johannesburg and the headgear and wheel depicted still survive. The mine was not a popular choice to celebrate the re-opening of the industry following the Boer War. The mine was owned by the brothers George and Leopold Albu, who being of German Jewish origin, had been known for their pro-Boer stance. The envelope in which the present medal was kept states (in W.V.R.B's hand that "only six appeared to have been given .... one to Kitchener". The ceremonies had been overseen by Lord Kitchener and the medal presented to him still exists, contained in a special case. However Laidlaw believes around twenty medals could have been struck. The medal's envelope also states "This specimen belonged to Mr W. Wyburgh Commissioner of Mines". Wyburgh was also the President of the South African League.
A group of medals pertaining to Prince Louis Napoleon, Prince Imperial, who was commissioned as an officer in the British Army and killed in a skirmish with Zulu warriors during the Zulu Wars, on 1 June, 1879. Medals relating to the Prince form a small chapter in the medallic history of South Africa.
The W. V. R Baldwin Collection of the Medals of Southern Africa (2000-2500 GBP)