Coins of the South African Republic
For later related coins, see Coins of South Africa.The
South African Republic is often confused with the
Republic of South Africa. The South African Republic became the
Transvaal between
1877 and
1881, and from
1900 until
1994. Some people do not regard the South African Republic's
coinage as being part of the
Commonwealth of Nations coin series. That is actually incorrect, because the South African Republic was independent under British
suzerainty.
While not circulated in the South African Republic they are South Africa's first indigenous coinage and, for the sake of accuracy, should not be omitted from the region's early numismatic history.
Unlike the Burgerspond (see below) the Strachan and Co trade tokens were actively used as coinage over an area the size of Ireland by a largely non-white population for over 50 years.
The coins were issued by a trading store, Strachan and Company, and recognised by the Griqua Government in East Griqualand before the territory was annexed by the British is 1878. Despite the region falling under the jurisdiction of the British the coins continued to be accepted across the region until 1932 when they were outlawed.
Even the Standard Bank at Kokstad record accepting and distributing these coins until the late 1800s because of the shortage of imperial coinage in this remote region.
This famous and extremely rare coin was the first coin to have been struck for any entity that later became part of South Africa. It was struck at
Heaton's Mint,
Birmingham,
England, even though it lacks the
H mint mark.
There are two types of the Burgerspond â€" a
coarse beard type and a
fine beard type.
The Burgerspond is named after the President of the South African Republic,
Thomas Francois Burgers. Some members of the South African Republic's
Volksraad—or
Parliament—credited Burgers with the introduction of the Republic's first coinage. When the first issue (the fine beard variety) was presented to members of the Volksraad they scorned the coins that carried Burger's image. The symbolism represented foolish pride to a very religious community. Such was the outcry no further attempt was made to mint more of these coins with the smaller second strike (coarse beard) being stopped because of the ill feeling the "coins" created among the Boers.
The Burgerspond was rarely, if ever, used as coinage and was commonly used as jewellery, the reason so few unmounted pieces exist today.
In 1892, the South African Republic began to issue its first full coinage series. As the British coins were in circulation, it was natural that the British currency system was adopted.
There were 12
Pence in one
Shilling, and 20 Shillings in one
Pond. These coins depict the portrait of the President,
Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger. The name of the Republic was
Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, which was abbreviated on the
obverse of the 1d, the 2-1/2s, the 5s, the 1/2 Pond, and the 1 Pond.
In 1892 the coins that were issued are as follows;
1 Penny. (Issued in 1893, 1894 and 1898).
3 Pence
or Tickey. (Issued 1893 to 1897).
6 Pence. (Issued 1893 to 1897).
1 Shilling. (Issued 1893 to 1897).
2 Shillings. (Issued 1893 to 1897).
2-1/2 Shillings. (Issued 1893 to 1897).
5 Shillings. (Issued in 1892 only).
1/2 Pond. (Issued 1893 to 1897).
1 Pond. (Issued through to 1900).
The coins of the 1892 issue were struck at the Royal Prussian Mint in
Berlin. The others were struck at the South African Republic's Mint in
Pretoria.
There are two types of Kruger coins:
Single Shaft and
Double Shaft, which is derived from the
wagon depicted in the Republic's
Coat of arms. The
Double Shaft coins are known by the nickname
Disselboom, which is
Afrikaans for
Double Shaft. The 1892
Single Shaft 1/2 Pond coin is a unique coin. The
Disselboom coins are the 1892 1/2 Pond and 5s coins. One has to be very careful, as there are
forgeries of the
Disselboom coins, especially the 5s. A genuine
Disselboom 5s must have the wheels on the wagon the same size.
This very rare coin is the same design as the Tickey of 1892â€"97, but dated 1898 and struck only in 22
carat (92%)
gold. There are 215 pieces known. These were struck by the
mining magnate Sammy Marks. There were also contemporary jewellers' copies struck at the same time. The jewellers' copies are also in 22 carat (92%) gold, but they can be identified by the lack of stops in the Z.A.R. monogram at the top of the reverse. The jewellers' copies of the Sammie Marks Tickey are popular with
Commonwealth of Nations coin collectors.
This is another extremely rare and famous coin. This coin is unique in two respects:
It has the Z.A.R. monogram on the obverse and 'EEN POND' on the reverse.
This coin was struck at an emergency mint located in
Pilgrim's Rest, hence the origin of the name 'Veld Pond'.
There is a
brass token that is often confused with the Kruger 1 Pond coin. The giveaway is in the scroll below the Coat of arms. Instead of the normal motto, it is inscribed 'IMITATION KRUGER SOVEREIGN'.
The Kruger coins are very popular, especially with coin collectors in
Scotland. After the
Second Boer War, the returning Scots war veterans returned home with pocketfuls of Kruger coins, which they found and souveniered. The 1898 1d often turns up, as it is the most common coin. The 1/2 Pond and 1 Pond coins are popular, because they are the same fineness as the British 1/2 Sovereign and 1 Sovereign coins: 22 carat (92%) gold.
*
The trade tokens of Strachan and Company*
The Burgers Pond*
The Veld Pond
