South African Coin Hoards

Pondoland Ancient Coin Hoard (c.1893)

In October 1897, G.F. Hill of the British Museum reported an astonishing find made approximately four years earlier near Fort Grosvenor (Port Grosvenor) in Pondoland. While excavating the site of what had been a Bantu hut, workers searching for treasure came upon a calabash (clay pot) some ten feet below the surface, which crumbled in their hands, revealing a collection of ancient bronze coins. [citation:2][citation:10]

The coins ended up in the collection of Mr. Thomas Cook, a businessman from East Pondoland who was present during the excavation and could testify that they were all found together. [citation:2]

The hoard originally comprised at least 28 coins. Its current whereabouts are unknown, but the discovery remains one of the most puzzling in South African numismatic history. [citation:2][citation:10]

The Kruger Millions and Related Hoards

Frankfort Hoard (1949)

A farmworker named Samuel M'taung discovered approximately 16,000 ZAR gold ponds in a hole near a bridge on the farm Botmansbank near Frankfort in the Free State. The finder was charged with theft but was found innocent by Justice de Beer. Local historian F.A. Steytler speculated the hoard may have been linked to the evacuation of the Orange Free State government during the Anglo-Boer War. Most of the coins were reportedly melted down; only a tiny fraction survive. [citation:10]

Union Buildings Hoard (1911)

While digging the foundations for the Union Buildings at Meintjieskop in Pretoria, workers unearthed two cases containing gold bars. Approximately £4,000 worth of gold was found, and the two discoverers each received £1,000 (half the treasure). The origin of this gold remains uncertain – possibly connected to the Kruger Millions legend. [citation:10]

Highwaymen's Loot, Chrissiesmeer (1935)

In 1935, a farmworker near Chrissiesmeer uncovered gold sovereigns while ploughing, setting off a treasure hunt that revealed a substantial hoard. The Grobler brothers, farm owners, recovered 28 Kruger ponds and 16 half-crowns from the reigns of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. [citation:10]

The hoard was traced to a highway robbery in October 1912, when a gang held up a mail coach and stole boxes containing £2,500 in gold and £100 in silver. Only one robber was caught; on his release from jail, a family member dug up the hoard but was unable to retrieve it due to blindness. [citation:10]

The "Lost Hoard" – Swiss Vault Discovery (2021)

In 2021, the South African Mint announced the discovery of a large parcel of Kruger ponds (gold pounds) that had been stored in the Netherlands during the early 20th century, then transferred to Switzerland before World War II for safekeeping. The coins remained in a Swiss vault for decades until sold at auction and acquired by the SA Mint. [citation:7][citation:8][citation:9]

• Verification: Each coin was independently graded and certified by the Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC) in Florida, confirming authenticity, legal tender status (1893–1900), and correct weight. [citation:9]
• Availability: Two limited-edition sets were released: (1) Lost Hoard half-pond with a 2019 1/10 oz gold privy-mark proof Krugerrand (233 units); (2) Lost Hoard full pond with a 2019 ¼ oz gold privy-mark proof Krugerrand (677 units). [citation:7][citation:9]
• Packaging: Included a replica of the original money bag in which the coins remained hidden for over a century. [citation:9]

Honey Mamabolo, Managing Director of the South African Mint, described the discovery as "truly awe-inspiring" and "the closest, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to physically own authentic remnants of the Transvaal gold." [citation:7][citation:8]

Foundation Stone Hoards

Nuwe Kerk, Cape Town (1833)

When the Nuwe Kerk (Dutch Reformed Church) in Cape Town was demolished in 1967, workers removed the foundation stone laid by Governor Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole on 20 April 1833. Beneath it, a collection of 20 coins was found, along with contemporary articles such as a newspaper. [citation:10]

Dr. Frank Mitchell examined the hoard and noted that the coins were pieces familiar and presumably in circulation in Cape Town at the time. The hoard included: [citation:10]

• 9 pieces from Great Britain
• 8 from the Netherlands
• 3 from other countries

Pretoria Mint Foundation (1892)

At the ceremony laying the foundation stone of the new National Bank Building and the Mint in Pretoria on 6 July 1892, a leaden casket was concealed behind the cornerstone. It contained documents, newspapers, a £1 banknote, and coin specimens: a gold Pond, a gold Half Pond, and a silver Crown (5 shillings). [citation:10]

President Kruger's speech referred to these as "die muntstukke van hierdie Republiek wat tot hede uitgegee is" (the coins of this Republic issued to date), suggesting that smaller denominations were not yet in circulation. [citation:10]

Modern and Unusual Hoards

Crocodile Stomach Hoard (1913)

One of the strangest coin hoards recorded occurred on 20 August 1913 on the farm Coopersdal near Komatipoort in the Eastern Transvaal. Three hunters shot a crocodile; when natives cut the reptile open, they found 25 gold sovereigns in its stomach. [citation:10][citation:4]

• Three were ZAR ponds
• The remainder were from the reigns of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII
• The most recent date was 1909
• The coins had lost about 18% of their weight and were highly polished due to the crocodile's digestive system. [citation:10]

The theory was that an unfortunate native on his way home from the mines with his savings in his belt became a meal for the crocodile. [citation:4]

Durban Greyville Treasure (1919)

In November 1919, municipal workmen lowering the level of Mitchell Crescent near Greyville racecourse struck what an eyewitness described as "a seam of gold sovereigns." Within minutes, a frenzied crowd descended, digging for treasure. By the time police arrived, the cache had been cleaned out. [citation:10]

A police investigation recovered only 75 gold sovereigns from some of the labourers. All coins dated to the Victorian era, meaning they had been buried for at least 20 years. The original owner was never found. [citation:10]

Other Recorded Hoards

Eric Rosenthal, in From Barter to Barclays (1968), recorded several additional finds: [citation:10]

• 1898: French coins from c.1805 found during sewer excavation in Cape Town.
• Fish River: Fifteen Netherlands Guilders (1687-1785) found on the banks of the Great Fish River near Cradock.
• 1930s: A pot full of old coins discovered by a farmer in the veld at Riversdale.

Modern Hoard (2020) – United Kingdom

While not a South African discovery, a hoard of 50 South African Krugerrands (48 from 1974, 2 from 1975) was found during the 2020 Coronavirus lockdown in Milton Keynes, UK. The coins were divided between two white plastic tubes, each placed in a green 'Lyons Original' coffee tin, found inside a Tesco plastic carrier bag. The hoard was submitted as potential Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996. [citation:1]

This demonstrates how South African gold coins continue to be discovered, concealed, and studied around the world.

Sources

• Western Cape Numismatic Society. "South African Coin Hoards" (Pierre H. Nortje, June 2024). [citation:10]
• The Heritage Portal. "Ancient Greek and Roman coins from Pondoland, South Africa (Part 1)" (September 2023). [citation:2]
• Western Cape Numismatic Society. "Ancient Greek and Roman coins from Pondoland, South Africa (Part 2)" (Pierre H. Nortje, September 2023). [citation:3]
• Papers Past (New Zealand). "The Golden Crocodile" – Mataura Ensign, 10 October 1913. [citation:4]
• The Guardian. "Going for Transvaal gold" (Chris McGreal, June 2001). [citation:5]
• News24. "'Kruger Millions' discovered in a Swiss vault – and now for sale" (February 2021). [citation:7]
• DispatchLIVE. "'The lost hoard' of rare SA gold coins found in a Swiss vault released" (February 2021). [citation:8]
• South African Mint. "South African Mint releases the Krugerrand 'Lost Hoard'" (February 2021). [citation:9]
• Finds.org.uk (British Museum). 2020 T345 – 50 South African Krugerrands hoard. [citation:1]

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