World coins chat: South Africa & Boer Republics

South Africa is located exactly where the name suggests it to be located. It was originally inhabited by various tribes such as the Khoikhoi around the Cape and Zulus in the east. In 1652, Dutchman Jan van Riebeeck founded the Dutch Cape Colony around present-day Cape Town as a refreshment place for ships from the United East India Company (VOC). Dutch and German colonists settled there, to be accompanied by French Protestants who had fled the purges by the Catholics. The Dutch had the commercial skill of realizing that the Cape was very suitable for wine production, but lacked the skills for producing a potable wine. The French brought the experience and South African wines are well known to present day.

The British conquered Cape Colony from the Dutch Republic during the Napoleonic Wars. This caused a group of the original Dutch settlers to move further east around present-day Johannesburg area, away from British rule. These people were named Voortrekkers and because of the many farms they founded they called themselves Boers (Boer means farmer in Dutch). The Boers founded 3 Republics:

- Orange Free State
- South African Republic (aka Transvaal)
- Natalia (short-lived and now referred to as Natal).

Natalia was quickly annexed by the British but the other 2 were tolerated until First Boer War broke out in 1880, which the Boers surprisingly won. The Boer Republics gained international recognition and attempted to develop a more advanced statehood. The SAR started issuing its own currency named Pond (equal to British Pound, which was used by Cape Colony) and coins were issued from 1892.

Holland and Germany gained more and more interest in these small states that had defied the mighty British Empire. For the British, it became more and more clear that intervention was necessary to retain power in the area and prevent growing German influence across German South West Africa towards Mozambique. In 1899 the Second Boer War broke out, which was won by Britain after initial successes by the Boers followed by scorched earth tactics by the British. The British deployed concentration camps in which many Boer women and children perished due to famine.

By 1902 the Boer Republics were annexed and merged with Cape Colony, and from 1910 the country was known as the Union of South Africa. In 1923 the South African Reserve Bank started producing own notes and coins to replace the British currency. In the 1930's South Africa shortly did not follow the British Pound's devaluation but this was quickly reset as it hurt the economy too much.

Due to the Apartheid policies of the National Party South Africa alienated itself from the international community. At the same time the white minority feared the black majority and held on to oppressive policies. In 1961 South Africa was suspended from the Commonwealth and the Republic of South Africa was founded. At the same time, the South African Pound was replaced by the Rand (2 ZAR = 1£) and decimalised into 100 cents. Nice trivia: to aid the decimalisation process a mascotte named 'Decimal Dan' was used.

From 1961 to 1964 the new Rand coins resembled the old £sd coins but with new denominations. From 1965 to 1994 a second coin series was used made of base metal only except for the earliest 1 Rand coins. In 1965 a Rand was still worth $1.20, but started losing value due to the economical sanctions. By 1982 the Rand had dropped to 2R/$.

President Frederik Willem de Klerk brought reforms to end Apartheid and ANC leader Nelson Mandela was released, which led to black majority rule, a new flag and a new coin series in 1994. This new coin series alternates the many languages used in South Africa leading to ever so many KM numbers (I just own 1 of every denomination).

The Rand dropped dramatically in 2001 to 12/$ but recovered after to 7/$, only to fall again to the current rate of 12/$. To compare, in 1965 one Rand bought 5 Swiss Francs. Fifty years later a Rand is only worth 8 Rappen.

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/boer-1.html

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/afrique_du_sud-1.html

Until when did they payed with VOC money?

btw I think the VOC coins are listed wrong... They shouldnt be in Netherlands-east Indies but in Dutch colonies, you could pay in lots of country's with them...

Quote: jelleUntil when did they payed with VOC money?

btw I think the VOC coins are listed wrong... They shouldnt be in Netherlands-east Indies but in Dutch colonies, you could pay in lots of country's with them...

The British took control in 1806 and from 1825 only British Pounds were made sole legal tender. I would think the Cape Colony used a mix of Dutch Republic and VOC money.

For some reason, I have a lot of South African coins in my collection, especially apartheid-era ones. They seem to be quite common here. Maybe there is a large local Afrikaner community that I've never heard about? (Apparently, about 5,400 white South Africans live in my province, but I've never met any.)


As in so many other British holdings, there was a demand for coinage in the Cape Colony before coins were actually issued, and the weight and low value of copper coins made their transportation from Britain unfeasible. So locally issued copper tokens began to be used as small change, repeating a pattern seen in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and many other colonies. This is the only such token in my collection - it's not pretty but it's still interesting.


And here are my two silver Boer coins. The half-crown is a real beauty but it has some weird circular damage cutting through the letters in the legend. Still, it's one of my favourite coins in my collection.



British South African coins are attractively rendered and the design on the shilling is one of my all-time favourites. Most of these were designed by the incredibly prolific George Kruger-Gray, the engraver whose work was spent across the whole British Empire (and his 1937 designs are still being used in Canada to this day). The KGVI and QE2 issues are quite inexpensive and are worthy acquisitions to any British or African collection.



South Africa soon gained independence from the British, and decimalized their currency, turning half a pound into one rand. (Australia and New Zealand also chose to decimalize so that half a pound would become one dollar, rather than a full pound.) Their first coin series was a combination of old and new designs - Queen Elizabeth II was replaced with Jan van Riebeeck, the Dutch founder of Cape Town. The portrait of Riebeeck is unusually high-relief and many issues are poorly struck. The other designs were carried over from the British series, but with attention to detail - the 5c coin looked just like the old six-pence, except that the new coin had five bundles instead of six to reflect its new denomination.



However, retaining the sizes of old pre-decimal currency was impractical, so a new series was put together with entirely new designs and no silver content. This series still features van Riebeeck, but now he's in profile for ease of striking. Another thing you may notice about these coins is that they have only one language on them! Like Belgium, South Africa decided that the best way to pursue bilingualism would be to strike two different types of coins every year, one in English, the other in Afrikaans. I still haven't finished the full type collection of this series because it's hard to remember whether I own the English or Afrikaans type. This marked the beginning of South African official language policies leading to an endless variety of different coin types.



To make collecting even harder, coins of this era come in many commemorative types. Like many other former British colonies, South Africa had a State President, who acted as a ceremonial head of state in the absence of the Queen (the monarchy had been abolished in 1960). Until 1984, the State President had few powers. When a State President died or resigned, coins would be struck in his likeness.

The first politician depicted here is Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd, first Prime Minister of the RSA and the creator of the apartheid regime, which kept South Africa's black majority in abject poverty and separate from the ruling, enfranchised, and wealthy white minority. For these controversial deeds he was stabbed to death in 1966, and his death began the tradition of putting retired or otherwise departed politicians on commemorative coins. The other three politicians here are all State Presidents - Charles Robberts Swart, Jacobus Johannes Fouché, and Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs. There are also coins in all denominations from 1982 featuring Balthazar Johannes Vorster, but I don't have any yet. The two Presidents to come after Vorster (a reform in 1984 gave the State President much more power), Marais Viljoen and Pieter Willem Botha, were only commemorated on 1-rand coins.



Eventually, it was decided that striking coins in two different languages every year was too much trouble, so Riebeeck was replaced with the South African coat of arms, done in traditional British style. This rand coin is made of nickel, showing little evidence of South Africa's status as a huge producer of precious metals.



President de Klerk's political reforms in South Africa were matched by a coinage reform. All denominations were downsized and two new coins were introduced - 2 rand and 5 rand. The apartheid regime's fall is visible through the coins of South Africa through this period.



After South Africa's black population gained the vote and basic human rights, their 9 native languages joined English and Afrikaans as official languages of South Africa. With 11 official languages, all of equal status, and all with different ways of saying "South Africa", South Africa now has the second-most official languages in the world (only India has more, with 22 official languages - but on the currency, English and Hindi dominate). The rotation of national languages began once again, and now almost every South African coin is a one-year type.



Another significant change was to South Africa's coat of arms. Seeking to abandon the British style, and to get rid of the old coat of arms which had been so closely associated with apartheid, an entirely new and unconventional symbol was created for the country in 2000. In the last row here, you can see three coins with the same denomination, but all three are considered different types because of their different languages. This is why South Africa is a type collector's dream... or nightmare.

In this post, I have left a lot of coins out, simply because of the sheer number of types issued by the Republic of South Africa. Most significantly, I don't have a bimetallic 5-rand coin. South African coins are usually not enormously valuable, and there are certainly a lot of them. A type collection of modern South African coins can get very big, very fast. For these reasons, the country bears looking into if you are a numismasochist - and the attractive issues of the British and Boer governments will find a good home in almost any collection. The challenges and changes faced by the people of the southern tip of Africa have led to a huge and unique series of coinage.

Bonus: the only South African banknote in my collection:

Quote: jokinen(...)
Natalia was quickly annexed by the British but the other 2 were tolerated until First Boer War broke out in 1880, which the Boers surprisingly won. The Boer Republics gained international recognition and attempted to develop a more advanced statehood. The SAR started issuing its own currency named Pond (equal to British Pound, which was used by Cape Colony) and coins were issued from 1892.

I've got a 2 1/2  Shillings coin issued in 1896 with legend in Afrikaans.
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces21288.html
It took me a while to figure out that in Numista these coins are not listed under South Africa, but as a different entity :  "South Africa, Boer republics"

I Have a very decent number of coins from South Afrika about 60, I have visited the country 2 1/2 times... One of my favorite countries to visit, specially the Kruger National Park which is located up north of the country.

I do have a lot of close friends from there and I have been there during Xmas which is summer for them, I think that's the best time to visit, specially if you going for safaris as some areas are dry and the animals need to look for water and get more exposed to our cameras :)

I collect SA by year, type.

There are many fakes of the higher denomination Boer coins so be careful. Check the rims and the details of the coat of arms for dodgy signs. Can't really judge Nalaberong's coin though. Looks real to me but with issues he is mentioning.

Early South African coins have their variants as well. The George V issues have their denominations in different styles, for example '3d' and '3 pence' as separate types. I own 41 South African types (ignoring all those legend types) and among them are quite some silvers. From SAR I own another 3.

Nice map from 1885 of Southern Africa, showing Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South African Republic, Basutoland (now Lesotho), Swaziland, Zululabd, Natal, Bechuanaland (now Botswana), German South West Africa (but named Great Namaqua land) and Matabeleland (Zimbabwe).

Funny to see so much varieties for SA coinage. For example my 5 cent coins. I've 4 different ones: 2 with the old coat of arms and 2 with the new one. Old ones are English/Afrikaans and Tsonga, new ones are Swati and Tsonga again.

My SA Type set is really just a side collection to my SA Penny and Farthing collections, but I have
97 types thus far

The damage on the half crown is where it was once used as jewellery

The Jan van Riebeeck coins (the guy with long hair) are very collectable and ahrd to find now a days. I do always look for them in local coin markets here in the Netherlands.
They're very easy to swap too.

For people who collects by year, i have a lot different for swap in my list. Have a look.

I still have my 1898 ZAR Penny, in at least EF condition that I got from the London coin fair a few year back when I met up with bam_777 & Radrick007. I only paid £1 out of the trays that guy had ! Maybe it was UNC until they'd been rummaged for half an hour !

No big essays this time but some South African gems for you!


Boer Halfcrowns 1894 and 1897



Penny from 1892, stained and verdigris, but near EF condition.



1934 Penny in VF


Halfcrowns 1927 ------------------1944-----------------------1954

and the piece de la resistance



a 1953 Proof set.

South Africa was actually a republic outside the Commonwealth from 31 May 1961 to 31 May 1994, then became a republic inside the Commonwealth on 1 June 1994.

South Africa was actually an independent Dominion from 1910 to 1961, even though the 3 reigning Kings & Queen Elizabeth II were South Africa's heads of state - viceregally represented by the Governors-General of the Union of South Africa.

Even today, South African coins are still not particularly popular with collectors outside South Africa - but I do collect them, considering that even the 1961 - 93 coins are now part of the British Commonwealth series.

Aidan.

Quote: "jokinen"​From 1961 to 1964 the new Rand coins resembled the old £sd coins but with new denominations. From 1965 to 1994 a second coin series was used made of base metal only except for the earliest 1 Rand coins. In 1965 a Rand was still worth $1.20, but started losing value due to the economical sanctions. By 1982 the Rand had dropped to 2R/$.
​
​President Frederik Willem de Klerk brought reforms to end Apartheid and ANC leader Nelson Mandela was released, which led to black majority rule, a new flag and a new coin series in 1994. This new coin series alternates the many languages used in South Africa leading to ever so many KM numbers (I just own 1 of every denomination).

​The only thing that is very slightly inaccurate about this is the 1994 date for the new coin series.

The second coin series ran until 1990, with a slight overlap with the new series in 1989. This is important because the new coin series doesn't coincide with the end of apartheid and rebirth of the country. In fact, the new series even carried in portrait of the old apartheid president, in one case.

Otherwise, an excellent and easily readable introduction! Thank you. :-)

I think the coin series of 1990 came about too, as the value of the rand was seriously dropping by then. The Rand was very strong until 1982 but as Gold prices dropped in the 1980s and resistance to Apartheid became louder, the global backlash intensified through the 1980s.

Take 1984 - We are not going to play Suncity (A casino/brothel enterprise hugely cricticised as set up in Bophutswana a Black homeland set up by South Africa and places where behaviour like gambling and prostitution which were banned in the Republic, were openly sanctioned there).

Queen played a concert there in 1984 and regretted it since - and also in 1984 in the UK and most of the Commonwealth a number hit was Nelson Mandela by the Specials (A black/white musical communique from the lefte banke part of the UK). The global movemrnt for his freedom increased, Desmond Tutu got the Peace prize in 1986 etc.

Yet at the same time, Pik Botha who became President in 1984 got rid of the worst bits of apartheid like banning Blacks for the beaches and all Bantustans (Like Bophutswana) got RSA citizenship again (Only dismantled under Mandela though). De Klerk came in in 1989 as it was felt Botha was not dismantling Apartheid quick enough and he was facing opposition from Boer Hardliners who wanted it to stay. Under De Klerk most of it was dismantled and he freed Mandela making him the mouthpiece of the Blacks.

This led to huge fighting by Mandela's ANC and Mangosuthu Butelezi's Zulu Inkatha Freedom party and the media treated us to non stop fighting and barabarity in the news between 1990 and 1994.

The coins came in 1990 (Although some of the old type are dated that too). The period 1990 - 1994 was the same as Apartheid, shields, exiting Presidents (Botha) and text in English and Afrikaans only.

To view inflation - just look at the increasing price of a local postage stamp at the time.

1961 - 1971 - 2½c
1971 - 1980 - 4c
1980 - 1982 - 5c
1982 - 1983 - 8c
1983 - 10c
1984 - 11c
1985 - 12c
1986 - 14c
1987 - 16c
1989 - 18c
1990 - 21c
1990 late - 27c
1991 - 35c
1992 - 45c
1994 - 50c
1995 - 60c
1996 - 70c
1997 - R1
1998 - R1.20
1999 - R1.30
2001 - R1.40
2002 - R1.70
2004 - R 2.00

I stop collecting South African stamps after 2003 but I think its about 7 or 8 rand now.
If that is not inflation what is.

Quote: "Dutchgalego"​The Jan van Riebeeck coins (the guy with long hair) are very collectable and ahrd to find now a days. I do always look for them in local coin markets here in the Netherlands.
​They're very easy to swap too. B)

​

Like this? Uncirculated 1st year 50 cent coin (Crown sized)

Quote: "Moneytane"​
Yet at the same time, Pik Botha who became President in 1984 got rid of the worst bits of apartheid like banning Blacks for the beaches and all Bantustans (Like Bophutswana) got RSA citizenship again (Only dismantled under Mandela though). De Klerk came in in 1989 as it was felt Botha was not dismantling Apartheid quick enough and he was facing opposition from Boer Hardliners who wanted it to stay. Under De Klerk most of it was dismantled and he freed Mandela making him the mouthpiece of the Blacks.

​Pik Botha and PW Botha were not the same person. Pik was never president but he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs. PW was the one who was president and he was a hardline advocate of apartheid. I wouldn’t say he started dismantling it at all, and in fact some of the worst of the apartheid measures were implemented during his presidency.

But thanks for the great postage table! That is fascinating.

Out of all the State Presidents of South Africa, F.W. de Klerk was the only one who saw that the Apartheid system was an abomination that deserved abolition.

Even to this day, F.W. de Klerk has defended his role in destroying the Apartheid system - & paving the way towards South Africa's restoration into the Commonwealth, & he is understandably very critical of the post-1994 South African administrations.

P.W. Botha was the only man to serve as both as Prime Minister & as an executive State President - having abolished the Prime Minister's post in 1984.

B.J. Vorster served as both Prime Minister & as a non-executive State President - but a scandal forced him to resign.

Aidan.

Quote: "andrewdotcoza"​

Quote: "Moneytane"​​
​Yet at the same time, Pik Botha who became President in 1984 got rid of the worst bits of apartheid like banning Blacks for the beaches and all Bantustans (Like Bophutswana) got RSA citizenship again (Only dismantled under Mandela though). De Klerk came in in 1989 as it was felt Botha was not dismantling Apartheid quick enough and he was facing opposition from Boer Hardliners who wanted it to stay. Under De Klerk most of it was dismantled and he freed Mandela making him the mouthpiece of the Blacks.
​
​
​
​

​​Pik Botha and PW Botha were not the same person. Pik was never president but he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs. PW was the one who was president and he was a hardline advocate of apartheid. I wouldn’t say he started dismantling it at all, and in fact some of the worst of the apartheid measures were implemented during his presidency.
​
​But thanks for the great postage table! That is fascinating.

​Sorry my bad - I meant PW - never knew what PW stood for and assumed Pik.

Out of all the State Presidents - Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd was the worst, an uber racist piece of s#@% who hated Blacks with a passion. He allowed such things as the whipping of them with the Sjambok (A whip) in Police custody and forced them to learn Afrikaans. He also defended the pass book system and under his Presidency he had Mandela sent to Robben Island (Originally he wanted him killed) - some deluded Afrikaners still revere him as some God.

Even sadder was postage stamp issues glamorising him came out in 1967. Verwoerd was assassinated by a Half Greek/Half Mozambiquan called Dmitri Tsafendas in 1966.

South west Africa - 2nd set from the top! (Yes they were basically an illegally occupied territory of the RSA).

Early South African stamps for you

Two top values of 1913 first definitives (The pound is worth more than a gold pond!)

H.F. Verwoerd was a Prime Minister of South Africa only - not State President.

He was actually born in the Netherlands.

I have got a pair of the .800 fine Silver 1 Rand coins in my collection.

He was also very hateful towards the Crown, which is why the 1960 Referendum was held - & he got his way, except in the very monarchist-minded & very British Province of Natal.

Opposition to the idea of a republic also centred on isolating South Africa from the Commonwealth.

Aidan.

I am a new coin collector, born and bred South African!! And I have found this thread most interesting and informative. To hear the history I have learnt and lived spoken in "coin" is very different!

Thanks for the information and well written facts including coins...

I have inherited a small collection and I found identifying the coins very interesting and I have added them to "My Collection" on Numista...

I am now trying to learn how to grade, and will grade my collection when I know more.

Good evening everyone 🤗

Interestingly, according to Wikipedia at least, coins and banknotes depicting Jan van Riebeeck actually depict Bartholomeus Vermuyden.

Portrait of Jan van Riebeeck

Portrait of Bartholomeus Vermuyden, used on coins of the first and second decimal series as well as on banknotes and some stamps.

I picked up a 2020 Silver Krugerrand yesterday afternoon.

So happy to get my third ( & first non-British) coin dated 2020.

Aidan.

Some more South African pieces for you from the racist Apartheid era.

 

  

1962 50 cents with Vermuyden now? This is the scarcest of all their Crown sized 50 cents, although some of the 1947 - 1960 5 shilling coins are more rare

 

 

1960 - Golden Anniversary of the Union, this coin was the last for 3 things there. The last coin under British Commonwealth (Although she is absent here, the late Queen appeared on other 1960 dated South African coins).

Also the last year before the Republic was declared and the last use of Predecimal currency as it became a 50 cent coin in 1961.

 

   

1955 - The coin as a silver crown and portrait of the late Queen. Notice how the Springbok was constant through the 1940s, 1950s and the decimal 50 cent coins of the 1961 - 1964 period. Only 1960 (Above) and 1952 (Showing the Dromedaris speeding towards Table Mountain) had different designs.

 

    

1937 6d (Shows protea flower and 6 bands, when changed to 5 cents in 1961, it changed to 5)

 

Banknotes

 

 enlargeable shot

Single 1 Rand banknotes used during the 1966 - 1970s period, again with Vermuyden listed as Van Riebeck

 

 

A £10 banknote from the 1950s, this thing is huge and I suspect quite valuable. I love it and it shows mining as the cornerstone of South African prosperity back then.

I picked up a 2021 1 Rand on Thursday afternoon - thanks to a lovely South African woman from Cape Town who was looking for coins depicting cats.

 

She also bought 4 Paddington Bear 50 Pence coins from the U.K..

 

Aidan.

Gwyde

Quote: jokinen(...)
Natalia was quickly annexed by the British but the other 2 were tolerated until First Boer War broke out in 1880, which the Boers surprisingly won. The Boer Republics gained international recognition and attempted to develop a more advanced statehood. The SAR started issuing its own currency named Pond (equal to British Pound, which was used by Cape Colony) and coins were issued from 1892.

I've got a 2 1/2  Shillings coin issued in 1896 with legend in Afrikaans.
N#21288
It took me a while to figure out that in Numista these coins are not listed under South Africa, but as a different entity :  "South Africa, Boer republics"

Yeah, numista is sometimes overdoing it!

Not really - those Boer coins were just one part of the South African Union after 1910.

Before 1902 we had

 

British colonies of Cape of Good Hope and Natal, which used British coins before 1923

Boer (Afrikaner) colonies/republics of South African Republic (Known as Transvaal after 1902) and Orange Free State. Also we had Stellaland, Swazieland and a few other entities over the years.

 

In the British part - Griqualand, Zululand and British K*****ia (Racist word to describe an African) existed at periods in the 19th century.

 

Of all of them, only Griqualand issued a few coins in the early 19th century, some trade tokens in COGH in the mid 1800s and the Boer coinage of the Transvaal between 1874 (Burgersponds) and 1892 - 1898 (Silver/Bronze coins). Everyone else used foreign (Mostly British and in the Boer bits - Dutch and German coins, also Portuguese from Mozambique and Angola etc).

 

Unified South African coins only came in 1923 with the issue of a Union coinage (Banknotes go back to the 1910s, but were Union currency). The Republic introduced its own currency in 1961 and this has endured. Gold coins for the British empire were also issued in the 1920s and early 1930s.

 

So these earlier coins should be subsections of South Africa and they are I believe.

2½c silver coin, only issued between 1961 and 1964 and only for circulation in 1961 and 1963.

 

 

 

The coin, the size of an old tickey (3d) was a design problem as the 3d showed 3 bunches of rushes, and this could not show 2½, so it was merely the protea and lettering. The 5 cent had less issues, just showing 5 bunches instead of 6.

 

It was not included in the 1965 recoinage and replaced by a 2 cent bronze coin. Hence making these babies the most collectable of the 1961 - 1964 series. This was very cheap, just $7NZD or about 90 Rand.

 

   

 

Another oddity was the gold coins issued in South African Proof sets between 1951 and 1979. These were in addition to the silver and bronze circulating pieces. Introduced in 1951, they were the £1 and 10/- and showed the British monarch on them along with size and weight equivalent to British sovereigns, except being Pretoria minted and using South African mined gold!

 

In 1961 with the change of currency and government, the Queen disappeared, to be replaced by van Riebeck (Now identified as Vermuelen), these coins were rebranded 1 rand and 2 rand. In 1965 with the silver rands issued from 1965 to 1969 and then 1970 - 1979 with bease metal ones, the coins were still issued (Although cheaper sets sans the gold were also issued). These coins were different to the Krugerands issued from 1967 onwards showing Paul Kruger, but the same springbok. This 1978 coin was one of the last issued.

More South African gold includes the Gold Ponds and Half Ponds of the 1890s era, more common than the rare Burgerspond of 1874.

The coins were similar style to the other Boer era coins

 

  

I have one, but alas shows signs of formerly being used as a piece of jewellery, quite nice coins otherwise. 1 pond of course was the same size and weight as a British gold sovereign and halves were also issued. Cruder versions emerged in the 1900 - 02 period during war conditions.

 

After 1902, the mint was effectively mothballed, but in 1923 it was reopened under the Union of South Africa era and issued a new coinage featuring bronze pennies, halfpennies, farthings and 80% silver coins of Halfcrowns, Florins, Shillings, Sixpences and Threepences (Crowns were only issued from 1947 onwards). They also got the right to mint gold sovereigns and their halves. 1923 and 1924 are very rare and 1926 to 1928 are common, the most common was 1927 which I have.

 

 

These coins are marked with SA on them, to distinguish them from S (Sydney). They minted gold coins right up to 1932 for the UK as gold standard rules ended circulating gold in 1933, but starting in 1951, new designs showing the Springbok were minted for Proof and UNC sets like the coin I showed above.

 

Basically South African gold is affordable and easy to find, plus you know it comes from some of the deepest mines in the world!

The last gold 1 & 2 Rand with the pronking Springbok reverse was struck in 1983 - the last year that the ½ Cent coin was also struck.

 

Aidan.

Portraits over time

 

Paul Kruger - Transvaal (South African Republic coins)

 

 

Paul Kruger - Boer (Zuid Afrikannsche Republiek) on coins 1892 - 1900 Florins to 3d were no legend. Pennies, Halfcrowns, Crowns and Gold have legend of “South African Republic” in Afrikaans. A late 1900 or 1901 Pond has no portrait just writing (Made under siege conditions).

Thomas Burgers appeared on 1874 Burgersponds ?

 

King George V - 2 types

 

Appeared 1923 - 1936, this was the Bertram Mackennal crowned colonial portrait. Subtle latin Inscription (George 5th, King Emperor)

 

Standard Uncrowned Portrait also by Mackennal - only appeared on Pretoria minted Gold sovereigns and halves, reduced newer portrait 1929 - 1932 Full British Inscription  “George 5th by the grace of god, ruler of all the Britons, King, defender of the faith and emperor of India”
 

King George VI - 2 types

He appeared uncrowned as, South Africa considered a “white dominion” and thus the crowned portrait not used.

 

Type 1 1937 - 1947 “George 5th, King, Emperor” in Latin - Humphrey Paget portrait.

 

Type 2 1948 - 1952 “George sixth King” after Indian Independence

 

Queen Elizabeth II  

Her portrait only appeared on coins from 1953 to 1960, so we have the Mary Gillick (1st portrait) only. It was again uncrowned

 

No shoulder strap - “Elizabeth II Queen” in Latin

 

1960 Union 50th anniversary crown did not have her portrait

 

 

Ironically the Union broke up a few months later!

The Union of South Africa ceased to exist on 31 May 1961 when the Republic was declared.

 

Aidan.

Decimal Portraits 

 

These were harder as a variety were used until 1990 and these featured founders and ex Presidents, post 1990 is mostly without people and feature Nelson Mandela, with various later presidents on “special coins” Regular coins used a coat of arms and animals and plants.

 

Early Rand coins

 

    

These featured Bartholemeus Vermuiden (Incorrectly labelled as Jan van Riebeeck at the time), he was one of the founders of cape colony in 1652 and portrait based on a mid 17th century painting of him. Statement around coin is the motto of the Afrikaner Republic - bilingual.

Shown is a large brass cent and half silver 50 cents (Sizes of old penny and crown).

 

This crazy era was the even stevens phase with Afrikaans/English where each denomination had to have order of language down the middle with Afrikaans first on some coins and English first on the others, same with banknotes.

Apparently this was at Afrikaaner urging, most British descended/oriented South Africans did not give a sh!t.

 

1965 - 1990 coins

 

 

 

1965 and 1966 dated coins again showed another portrait of Vermuelen in profile, but starting 1967 coins showed past and present presidents and prime ministers. 1967 coins (Rand at top) showed Hendrik Verwoeld, who had been asssassinated earlier in 1966 by a Greek/Mozambican called Dimitri Tsafendas, angry at his racist rule. The 1969 coins showed Donges(Coin at bottom left), and 68 showed Charles Swart. Most years showed a coat of arms, but 1976, 1979, 1982, and a few other years showed people such as John Vorster, Jan Jacobs Fouche, and other heads of state (All Afrikaner ironically).

 

The crazy bilingual thing again appears on the Vermuyden coins of 1965, 66 and on the presidental obverses, except now some coins had Afrikaans script and others English. On the arms coins, both languages appeared and again it was even stevens with which language appeared right or left. Obverses fortunately just had numbers and Afrikaans numbers were at least the same as English ones!

Yes I have a Pro British and Pro African stance.

 

1990 onwards

 

Standard coat of arms on coins, From 1990 to 1995 it was the bilingual older version with Afrikaans and English, however starting in 1996, with ANC rule, Afrikaans was reduced to the same status as 11 other African languages and each language got a turn for each denomination each year, so the 5 cents may be in Tsonga one year and Zulu the next, whilst the 10 cents will be Zulu in that year. English remains the supreme official language of South Africa though.

BCNumismatics

The Union of South Africa ceased to exist on 31 May 1961 when the Republic was declared.

 

Aidan.

Exactly, the 1960 crown was released in November 1960 as the Union was established in late 1910. Verwoeld had already declared it would leave the Commonwealth in late 1960.

 

The country switched to decimal currency in February 1961, just before the Republic was declared. So it was likely decimal currency was planned with the change to the Republic (Eliminating another sign of Britishness and connection to the Commonwealth).

The 1968 coins from 1 Cent to 50 Cents depicts C.R. Swart's portrait.

 

The 1969 1 Rand depicts T.E. Donges.

 

Aidan.

Maybe you should write it then, show some pictures, actually contribute rather than correct and then criticise.

 

Tane

Moneytane

BCNumismatics

The Union of South Africa ceased to exist on 31 May 1961 when the Republic was declared.

 

Aidan.

Exactly, the 1960 crown was released in November 1960 as the Union was established in late 1910. Verwoeld had already declared it would leave the Commonwealth in late 1960.

 

The country switched to decimal currency in February 1961, just before the Republic was declared. So it was likely decimal currency was planned with the change to the Republic (Eliminating another sign of Britishness and connection to the Commonwealth).

H.F. Verwoerd was at the 1961 Commonwealth Conference in which he attempted to have South Africa retain membership upon becoming the Republic - but it was refused.

 

Aidan.

Yes he had reservations, he made a mistake. But he was going to be booted anyway. The Commonwealth looked dimly at the actions of Apartheid.

 

1. Sharpeville massacres.

2. No Maoris no tour.

3. Passbook protests.

4. Denial of equal rights for non white South Africans.

 

No room for that behaviour in the “new” Commonwealth.

 

Lets stick to coins instead of politics. Apartheid is contentious and leads to Politics.

Moneytane

 

1952 Tercentenary Crowns did not have a portrait of the King.

 

I really think they did.

N#12759

You are right - sorry, here it is.

 

                     

Thats the tails side and for some unknown reason I did not take a photo of the heads, hence where I made the mistake.

The coin with over 1 million issued, is the most common of all the South African Crowns.

 

Second photo shows a set of stamps also issued in 1952 to celebrate the tercentenary (Lower set is 1953 Coronation).