TOPIC:

Adrian123456 wrote: Hi

And then from the Gloucester Citizen, 11 July 1902:

" The greater portion of the work of striking South African medals and clasps was carried out by contractors in Birmingham and London. Taking 1900 and 1901 together the number of South African medals struck was 370,000 of which 50,000 were re-struck. Twenty-four kinds of clasps are being issued, and 686,701 have been made. The estimated cost of these medals and clasps up to the end of last year was 21,700 Pounds. "

Interestingly that would give an average cost of about 6p per medal and clasp with an average of 1.85 clasp per medal !

Regards

Adrian

Interesting, thanks for posting. "50,000 were re-struck" - what exactly is this, any ideas?

Regards
Meurig

Hi Meurig

I believe the reference to the 50,000 re-struck relates to the raised dates variety, the stock of these which were re-struck to remove the dates, leaving the ghost dates still partially visible .

Regards

Adrian

Hello Adrian,

Quite right - many thanks.

I found some notes from the audit of the Royal Mint 1901 that clearly states:

"50,000 were re-struck in order to obliterate the date"

I would have thought re-striking would have effected other raised areas of the reverse - obviously these chaps were quite expert in their work.

Regards
Meurig

Hi Meurig

They would have used the same die again, either with the dates filled in and polished again, or make a new die from the old punch, after grinding off the dates on the punch.
When the new die struck the medal again, the raised dates would be flattened out and the silver would flow away. That must be why the remains of the dates are still visible on the surface, since the hardness and structure of the silver in that are will vary from the rest of the surface, which has largely been struck only once.

Since I don't have a raised date variety, nor a ghost date one, I can't look myself, but others could study that area under magnification and tell us what they see .

Regards

Adrian

I just wish that there was a version that could be sent to dealers and sellers of QSA's that the removed dates are not that rare or scarce.......

I looked under a high power glass and cannot see any other differences, at least on the couple that I have looked at.....

Mike

Thanks Adrian - an excellent activity for the rapidly approaching "holiday" - we are hosting .

If there were 50,000 "ghost dates" issued that forms maybe 15% of the total QSAs issued. I agree with Mike they are not rare and this is perhaps because they were issued to British regular units and these are most numerous on the market.

Anyone seen a ghost date on a Canadian (Strathcona's?), Australian, NZ, South African or RN QSA?

Regards
Meurig