HONORIS CRUX REMEMBRANCE COIN IN SOUTH AFRICA

This is a beautiful coin depicting the first edition Honoris Crux decoration that was available for award during 1952-1975.  These unnumbered coins have been struck in a beautiful shiny silver finish. The Honoris Crux of 1952, post-nominal letters HC, was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on 6 April 1952, during the Tercentenary Van Riebeeck Festival The Honoris Crux of 1952 is a silver-gilt Maltese cross which fits in a 45 millimetres diameter circle, with the arms of the cross in green enamel and with four eagles between the arms, all looking towards their right, with a roundel in the centre tierced horizontally in enameled orange, white and blue bands which represent the national flag and framed in a red circle inscribed “HONORIS CRUX”. The cross is suspended from a laurel wreath, in the form of a circular ribbon hanger, with the leaves in green enamel. Only five of these decorations were ever awarded, all of them to members of the South African Air Force: 1 Möller, A.P. (Aap) Capt 26-Jan-73 19 Sqn SAAF 2 Heim, G.L. (Geoff) Capt 18-Feb-74 16 Sqn SAAF 3 Beukes, R.J. Sgt 18-Feb-74 17 Sqn SAAF 4 White, D.S. (Denzil) Capt 7-Dec-74 19 Sqn SAAF 5 Burger, J.A.C. F Sgt 7-Dec-74 16 Sqn SAAF – this coin is not numbered but has a surface on the back where personalised engraving can be added.