The commemorative medal of Queen Elizabeth 11 will go on auction.
Image: Supplie
Seventy-five rare and historic medals that will be auctioned by the Bassani’s Auction House on Friday.
The Queen Elizabeth 11 Coronation Medal, an ABO Anglo-Boer War Medal and The German 1914-1918 Kyffhäuser Medal are among the items to be auctioned.
The ABO Anglo-Boer War Medal was awarded to burger S.H. Henning, a testament to South Africa’s turbulent history and The German 1914-1918 Kyffhäuser Medal, also known as the War Commemorative Medal of the Kyffhäuser Union, was given to German military personnel who served in World War I.
The Anglo Boer War medal will also be auctioned.
Image: Supplied
“The sale of these special medals – art of the collection of 75 – form part of the World Medals Auction, through which Bassani’s Auction House want to honour history and pay tribute to those who served, fought and shaped the world we know today,” said Landon Coleske, historian and numismatist at Bassani’s Auction House.
“The auction showcases symbols of courage, sacrifice and prestige from around the globe,” he said.
"Medals are more than just collectibles; they are tangible pieces of history, each one a silent witness to extraordinary events and lives lived with courage," added Coleske.
The auction on 28 February, coincides with Armed Forces Day (21 February), a day of remembrance for the South African National Defence Force and the lives lost in the SS Mendi disaster of 1917. The SS Mendi, a British and South African steamship, sank in the English Channel on 21 February 1917 due to thick fog, claiming the lives of over 600 men.
The tradition of awarding medals dates back to antiquity, but modern military medals as we know them emerged in the 17th century. Medals became a tangible symbol of honour, recognition, and loyalty—from the battlefields of Europe to the shores of Africa and beyond. Today, they not only preserve individual acts of bravery but also serve as valuable historical artifacts, Coleske said.
Collectors and historians worldwide recognise the immense value of these medals, both in their historical significance and their monetary worth. The highest price recorded at auction for a medal was $1.5 million for the British Victoria Cross awarded to Captain Noel Chavasse, one of only three men to receive the honour twice.
A South Africa Medal 1877-79 awarded to Private W. Ring, 58th Foot, who was severely wounded at Laing’s Nek on 28 January 1881, was auctioned for £1,100 in March 2024. Additionally, a Victoria Cross awarded to a soldier for bravery during the Boer War was sold for £220,000 in March 2024, emphasised Coleske.
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