Jardines Galleries · A directory of trusted sources
Coin Dealers & Auction Houses.
A working directory of established South African dealers, specialist auction houses, retail outlets, and museum collections for collectors, researchers, and anyone navigating the South African numismatic market. Organised around the two trust signals that matter most: SAAND membership and third-party grading.
The SAAND standard
South African Association of Numismatic DealersThe single most useful trust signal when buying South African coins. SAAND was founded in 1981 to establish a professional code of conduct for the numismatic trade — and its members are bound by an eight-point code of ethics that, among other things, requires them to guarantee the authenticity of every item they sell.
For collectors, that authenticity guarantee is the protection no other arrangement provides automatically. Buying from a SAAND member shifts the risk of misattribution off the buyer and onto the dealer — which, given the prices and the prevalence of altered or restruck pieces, is the single most useful protection a collector can have.
Specialist auction houses
Bassani's · EWAAN · RandcoinThe South African specialist auction landscape has consolidated around three houses — Bassani's, EWAAN Galleries, and Randcoin / Vintage Collector Auctions — each with its own iOS/Android app for live bidding, watchlist tracking, and push notifications.
For higher-end SA material the international houses still dominate: Heritage, Noonans, Spink, St James's, London Coins. The choice between local and international tends to come down to lot size, freight, and grading service rather than dealer quality.
SAAND — the code of ethics
The trust mark · Founded 1981The South African Association of Numismatic Dealers was founded in 1981 to establish a professional code of conduct for the local numismatic trade. Its members are bound by an eight-point code of ethics — the operational definition of what "SAAND member" actually means.
The SAAND code of ethics
- Support the Association's rules and by-laws in full.
- Conduct all business with the highest morality and fairness.
- Never impair the prestige of any other member of the Association.
- Guarantee the authenticity of every item sold.
- Avoid any item with questionable provenance or ownership history.
- Immediately correct any error in any transaction.
- Fulfil all verbal and written contracts.
- Submit any dispute to the Association first, before any external action.
SAAND also hosts regular coin fairs in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Bloemfontein. Recent fairs at The Wanderer's Club, Illovo, in Johannesburg have drawn dealers including Bassani's, City Coins, EWAAN Galleries, Gold Reef City Mint, and P&G Coins — entry is free, and the fairs remain the easiest way to meet multiple dealers in person.
South African dealers
Fourteen established firmsThe fourteen dealers below cover the active South African numismatic market. Founding SAAND members (1981) — Randburg Coin, Collectors Investments, and Gold Reef City Mint — are tagged accordingly. Active SAAND members are noted on individual cards.
Randburg Coin
randburgcoin.co.zaEstablished 1980; founding SAAND member. Grading expertise, large ZAR inventory. Parent company of Randcoin Vintage Collector Auctions.
Gary Beukman Coins
— direct enquiry —Specialist in ZAR rarities, with deep expertise in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek series.
SA Mint (Coin World)
samint.co.zaOfficial source for modern commemoratives. Museum and retail outlet at the Centurion campus.
Southern African Coin Co.
sacc.co.zaWide range of South African and world coins; established generalist dealer.
Rare Coin Investments
— direct enquiry —Investment-grade material, specialising in high-end rarities and collection-building.
Cape Coin
capecoin.co.zaEstablished Cape Town dealer, broad inventory across South African and world series.
The Coin Cabinet
thecoincabinet.co.zaCombined auction and retail operation; both online sales and direct purchase.
NASA Auctions
— Numismatic Auctions South Africa —Online auctions platform; regular SA-coin sales with timed-bid format.
P&G Coins
— Pretoria —Well-known Pretoria dealer, large stock of ZAR and world coins. Active SAAND member.
Gold Trader
goldtrader.co.zaBullion and collector coins — Krugerrand-heavy inventory with selected rarities.
City Coins
— Johannesburg —Johannesburg-based dealer, active SAAND member and regular coin-fair participant.
The Coin Guy
— online platform —Online platform and retail; active on social media, with regular sales and education content.
Collectors Investments
— direct enquiry —Founded 1970; founding SAAND member. One of the longest-running South African numismatic firms.
Gold Reef City Mint
— Johannesburg —Founding SAAND member; chairman Glenn Schoeman served the Association for 21 years.
Physical retail locations
For walk-in viewing & purchaseWalk-in retail remains a meaningful part of the South African numismatic experience — partly because nothing replaces handling the coin, and partly because the larger retail operations carry inventory that's difficult to discover online.
The Scoin Shop
Established 1999 · 25-year retail operation- FlagshipSandton City · plus a national branch network.
- SpecialtiesKrugerrands, modern collectables, international coins.
- Mint partnershipsMonnaie de Paris, US Mint, Mint of Norway, Royal Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint, East India Company, Staatliche Münze Berlin, Münze Österreich.
- AffiliationsAmerican Numismatic Association · Jewellery Council of South Africa · NGC partnership.
Carlton Centre Coin Exchange
Carlton Centre · Johannesburg CBD · Africa's tallest skyscraper- ServicesPurchase and sale of a diverse range of coins; appraisal services and historical information sessions.
- Visit tipWeekday mornings are ideal for a quieter experience and longer dealer attention.
Collectors World, Durbanville
Durbanville · Western Cape- RangeExtensive selection of collectibles — toys, coins, memorabilia.
- PositionA premier destination for collectors in the Cape region; broader scope than coins-only operations.
Coin World
Centurion · Adjacent to the SA Mint- FeaturesMuseum and retail outlet; Oom Paul Press on permanent display.
- HoursTue–Fri 09:00–16:00 · Sat 10:00–14:00 · Mon 13:00–16:00.
- MoreRead the SA Mint Today entry →
Auction houses
Three SA specialists · Seven internationalThe South African specialist landscape has consolidated around three houses — Bassani's, EWAAN Galleries, and Randcoin — each with mobile bidding apps and regular sales calendars. The international houses handle the upper end of SA material, particularly for buyers outside southern Africa.
Bassani's Auction House
Founded by Dillon Bassani · Leading SA rare-coin specialist- SpecialtySouth Africa's leading specialist auction house for rare coins — ZAR, Union, Decimal, and other collectables.
- SalesMultiple per year — Weekend Wonder, Crazy Wednesday's, Signature Auction series.
- Buyer's premium20%.
- AppBassani's app for iOS and Android — preview, watch, bid, and track history.
- Contact+27 82 901 8833 · info@bassanis.co.za
EWAAN Galleries
Ahmed Tayob · Bullion 2000 → SA Mint Numismatics 2004 → Full-time 2006- PositionAfrica's largest numismatic auctioneer by volume; Bid or Buy "top seller" award 2010.
- AppEWAAN Galleries app for iOS — preview, watch, bid, push notifications.
- ProfileLong-standing presence with deep SA Mint relationship and dealer network.
Randcoin / Vintage Collector
Randburg, Gauteng · Sister operation to Randburg Coin- ScopeOne-stop auction house for coins, banknotes, and collector items from around the world.
- FeaturesSafe physical viewing of catalogues; mobile app for preview, bidding, and tracking.
- LineageRun by the Randburg Coin family — long pedigree in the SA market.
International auction houses
Heritage Auctions
ha.comWorld's largest collectibles auctioneer. Regular SA sales.
Noonans
noonans.co.ukSpecialist in South African material. Partners with City Coins.
Spink
spink.comLong history of South African numismatic sales; archival depth.
St. James's Auctions
stjamesauctions.comRegular South African rarities; specialist sales.
London Coins
londoncoins.co.ukExtensive auction archives; price history reference.
Schulman
schulman.nlHistorical SA sales; European cataloguing tradition.
Stephan Welz & Co.
stephanwelzandco.co.zaGeneral-collectibles auction house — not coin-specialist, but conducts regular sales that include South African numismatic lots alongside art, jewellery, and antiques.
Museums & research collections
For research, not purchaseFour collections that matter for South African numismatic research. The Absa Money Museum holds "the most complete collection of South African numismatic items in the world"; the Berlin Münzkabinett holds the original 1892 ZAR dies and Schultz's wax models — the physical chain of authorship for the Republic's first coinage. For the broader Münzkabinett story see the Berlin Mint Connection.
Absa Money Museum
Absa Towers West · 15 Troye St, Marshalltown · Johannesburg- HoursMon–Fri 08:00 – 16:00. Bring ID for entry.
- CollectionThe most complete collection of South African numismatic items in the world. Cowrie shells, Venetian glass beads, gold coins from sunken ships, token money, Van Riebeeck banknotes, and the full SA coin record.
- Group bookingsmuseum@absa.africa
SA Mint Museum (Coin World)
Coin World · Centurion · SA Mint campus- CollectionCoins, medals, dies, and the Oom Paul Press (retired 2024) on permanent display.
- HoursTue–Fri 09:00–16:00 · Sat 10:00–14:00 · Mon 13:00–16:00.
- MoreRead the SA Mint Today entry →
Ditsong National Museum
Pretoria · National Museum of Cultural History- CollectionZAR coins, tokens, medals — and the broader cultural-history collection that contextualises them.
- PositionPublic-museum access; useful for research grounded in the broader cultural record rather than coins in isolation.
Berlin Münzkabinett
Bode-Museum · Berlin · Germany- CollectionZAR dies, wax models, trial strikes. Otto Schultz's original sculpts for the 1892 series; the master and working dies; contemporary specimens acquired at the time of striking.
- Online catalogueikmk.smb.museum
Practical guidance
Evaluating dealers · Bidding wellSix checks before the first purchase
- Check how long they've been in business — longevity is the cheapest reputation signal.
- Look for professional affiliations: SAAND, IBNS, ANA, PNG. SAAND membership guarantees authenticity.
- Read reviews and ask for references; reputable dealers will provide them.
- Verify the return policy and the authenticity guarantee in writing.
- Start with a small purchase to test the relationship before committing to a major piece.
- Visit a SAAND coin fair to meet multiple dealers in person.
Six rules before the first bid
- Set a maximum bid including buyer's premium — typically 20% at Bassani's — and stick to it.
- Study lot descriptions and photos carefully; question anything that's vague.
- View lots in person if possible; nothing replaces handling.
- Don't get caught in bidding wars — emotional bidding is the most common path to overpaying.
- Factor in shipping, insurance, and any third-party grading costs into your maximum.
- Use the mobile apps for real-time bidding and watchlist tracking.
- Bassani's Auction House — company information, auction calendar, mobile-app documentation.
- EWAAN Galleries — company history; SA Mint Numismatics Department registration record.
- The Scoin Shop — 25-year retail history and international mint-partnership disclosures.
- Absa Money Museum — public collection overview and visitor information.
- Carlton Centre Coin Exchange — visitor and services information.
- Randcoin Vintage Collector Auctions — auction-app documentation and operations record.
- SAAND — code of ethics, membership directory, coin-fair calendar.
- Cross-references: Numismatic Societies & Associations, Recent Auction Realized Prices, People Behind the Coins.