The People Behind the Coins

Engravers and Designers

Otto Schultz (1848–1911)

German engraver, Second Medallist at the Berlin Mint. Schultz's skill at producing lifelike, deeply engraved portraiture in metal is readily seen in his rendering of the bust of President Paul Kruger. He had a long list of engraving triumphs to his name by the time he was entrusted with the Transvaal coinage, including a number of splendid royal medals . His specialty was medals, and this skill is evident in the crispness of detail and sharpness of rims on the 1892 proofs .

He trained with the Loos medallic business, worked with L.C. Wyon at the Royal Mint London, and became Second Medallist at the Berlin Mint under Emil Weigand. Schultz engraved all ZAR dies from 1892 to 1900. His initials "O.S." on early 1892 issues caused a political scandal (Afrikaans "os" meaning ox), but his portrait of President Kruger remains in use on the Krugerrand today. The Berlin Münzkabinett holds his original wax models, as well as various striking tools for South African coins in the former die archive of the Berlin Mint .

P.J. Kloppers

A former school teacher with no professional experience as a die sinker, Kloppers was tasked with creating the dies for the 1902 Veldpond at Pilgrim's Rest . He wisely opted for simplicity, creating one of the crudest and most distinctive coin types of the 20th century. His design featured a proudly defiant "ZAR" monogram with the date 1902 on the obverse, and the denomination "EEN POND" on the reverse . One obverse die became notched, resulting in the celebrated "slash" variety visible on some specimens .

Leonard Charles Wyon (1826–1891)

Engraver to the Royal Mint, son of William Wyon. He prepared dies for the 1874 Burgerspond, a private commission for the South African Republic. His initials "L.C.W." appear on the obverse of the Burgerspond.

Coert Steynberg (1905–1982)

Prominent South African sculptor. He became the first South African artist to appear on coinage when his springbok design was used for the 1947 Royal Visit Crown. That same springbok was later adopted for the reverse of the Krugerrand (1967), making it one of the most widely recognised designs in the world.

George Kruger Gray (1880–1964)

British artist and medallist. He designed the ship reverse for the Union of South Africa halfpenny and penny (1923–1960) and the protea for the sixpence (1925–1960). His initials "KG" can be found on the ship coins, on the waves below the hull.

Sir Bertram Mackennal (1863–1931)

Australian sculptor. He created the obverse portrait of King George V used on Union coinage from 1923 to 1936. His initials "B.M." appear on the truncation of the King's bust.

Tommy Sasseen

South African designer who worked for the South African Mint. He designed the obverse of the 1‑cent coin (1965, with the Koppie and aloe), the reverse of the 10‑cent coin (aloe plant), and the 20‑cent reverse (cabbage tree). His initials "TS" appear on these coins.

Arthur Sutherland

South African artist. He designed the obverse of the 1995 Rugby World Cup R2 silver coin (a portrait of a rugby player). His initials "AS" appear on the obverse.

Linda Lotriet

South African designer. She created the reverse of the 1995 Rugby World Cup R2 silver coin, featuring three rugby players in action. Her initials "LL" appear on the reverse.

Susan Erasmus

Designer at the South African Mint. She designed the 2010 FIFA World Cup R5 circulation coin (the "Football and Map" design) and the 2013 Mandela "Life of a Legend" R2 coin (Mandela's portrait).

Nathalee Frankel

South African Mint designer. She created the reverse of the 2016 Crown & Tickey coin (the Pratley Putty tribute) and several Natura series reverses.

Mint Officials

• Friedrich Munscheid – Former Works Inspector of the Royal Prussian Mint, appointed Director of the Pretoria Mint . German technical advisor who helped equip the Pretoria Mint in 1892 and trained local staff.
• J.T. Becklake – Official of the Royal Mint branch in Pretoria; published mintage figures for ZAR and Union coinage in 1965, still used today.
• Prof. E.H.D. Arndt – South African historian, author of The South African Mints (1939), a detailed account of minting operations.
• Dr. Hugo Hammerich – Deputy Director of the Berlin Mint; preserved records of ZAR coinage produced in Berlin and published Die Deutschen Reichsmunzen (1905).
• Honey Mamobolo – Former Managing Director of the South African Mint (announced the Lost Hoard discovery in 2021).
• Tumi Tsehlo – Former Managing Director of the South African Mint.
• Dion Swanepoel – Architect of the Mint's IT department and CIM implementation in the 1990s.
• Marc van Gool – Co‑architect of the Mint's computer systems (1990s).
• Ludwig Loewe & Co. – Not an individual, but the Berlin firm that manufactured the two mint presses ordered by President Kruger in 1891 .
• L. Ostermann – Owner of a private mint in Berlin that struck the 25 "Glück auf Transvaal" commemorative medals in copper .

Governors of the South African Reserve Bank

Key Collectors and Researchers

• Elias Levine – Author of The Coinage and Counterfeits of the Zuid‑Afrikaansche Republiek (1974), the foundational work on ZAR coins.
• Brian Hern – Compiler of The Standard Catalogue of South African Coins, Medals and Tokens (annual), the essential price guide.
• Pierre H. Nortje – Secretary of the Western Cape Numismatic Society; author of numerous research articles on ZAR and Union coinage.
• Dr. Lawrence A. Adams – Collector and researcher; his collection was sold through Noonans.
• Dr. Frank Becker – Formed a renowned collection of ZAR half‑ponds, sold by Spink in 2023.
• Gatsby Collection – Modern collection of ZAR and commemorative coins, sold by Heritage in 2025.
• Orange River Collection – Important collection of ZAR gold, sold by Heritage in 2012.
• E. Levine Collection – Elias Levine's personal collection; provenance for the Sammy Marks Tickey.
• Read Collection – Early collection that included a Sammy Marks Tickey (sold 2013).
• E.A. Hohmann – Owned two 1892 proof sets and two "Glück auf Transvaal" medals, purchased in Berlin in 1954 .
• Bakewell Collection – Complete graded Union of South Africa set, featured in the PCGS Set Registry.
• Thomas van der Spuy – First recipient of the revived Bergman Trophy (for his complete graded ZAR set).
• Waldo Human – Founding President of the Western Cape Numismatic Society (2021); passed away in 2022.
• Jonathan Odes – Current President of the Western Cape Numismatic Society.
• Major J. Piek ("Oom Jack") – First President of the South African Numismatic Society (1941).
• Walter Bergman – Donor of the Bergman Trophy and author of A History of Regular and Emergency Paper Money Issues of South Africa (1968).

Society Leaders

• Waldo Human – Founding President, WCNS (2021).
• Jonathan Odes – President, WCNS.
• Thomas van der Spuy – Bergman Trophy recipient.
• Major J. Piek ("Oom Jack") – First President, SA Numismatic Society (1941).
• Walter Bergman – Bergman Trophy donor.

Sources

• Hern, Brian. The Standard Catalogue of South African Coins, Medals and Tokens (annual).
• Western Cape Numismatic Society articles (2023–2025).
• South African Mint publications and newsletters.
• Auction catalogs: Heritage, Noonans, Spink.
• PCGS CoinFacts and NGC Coin.
• Berlin Münzkabinett / museum-digital. "Südafrika: 1892" .
• Heritage Auctions. "South Africa: Republic gold 'Veld' Pond 1902 MS65 NGC" .

Revision History