Important British and World Coins, Tokens, Historial and Art Medals, Numismatic Books and Banknotes

South Africa, Boxing, a gold shield-shaped engraved award medal, two boxers with fists raised, back named (Presd. to Honest John Law, Referee of Boxing, Kimberley, 1900), 18ct, 10.58g, 34 x 27mm. The gold a deep yellow, extremely fine, with clip and ring for suspension; a rare association item (£150-200)

John Law (1853-1917) had an interesting life and was a well known character in the early days of Kimberley. Born in Spitalfields, London, he survived the wreck of the Singapore off Somalia in 1873. He returned to London, but then moved to South Africa. He is said to have been awarded medals for the Morossi campaign and Basuto war. He came to Kimberley in 1877, running a makeshift fire engine in the early days of the camp. Present throughout the siege, he was a member of the “Buff” section of the Home Guard. Boxing was probably a siege-time sport. In his private life, he was married with five daughters. Sold with photocopied obituary notice from the Diamond Fields Advertiser, 26 April 1917