1874 Penny
Bronze, tree between horns, mintage 100
1887 Kroon
Silver, copper (unique copper pattern $175,000+)
1888 Pennies
Multiple varieties/metals, struck for collectors
Printer
Otto Nolte & Co. / L.C. Lauer, Berlin
Orange Free State Patterns (1874–1888)
The Orange Free State, like its neighbour the ZAR, considered issuing its own coinage. Only patterns were made, primarily in Berlin by German firms Otto Nolte & Co. and L.C. Lauer. These 'salesman samples' were never approved for circulation and are now highly sought-after rarities.
Key Facts
- The Free State never had its own coinage
- Six pattern coins submitted to government for approval
- 1888 pennies struck for collectors' interest
- Unique 1887 copper Kroon sold for ~$175,000 (2011)
- Numista Rarity Index: 97 (scale 0–100)
Overview
The Orange Free State (1854–1902) was a Boer republic that, despite its independent status, never had its own circulating coinage . With the exception of Free State "good fors" (emergency tokens used to combat coin shortages), the republic relied on British and Transvaal coins for daily transactions .
The idea of an independent coinage was raised on more than one occasion. A German firm, Otto Nolte & Co. of Berlin, submitted a quote to the Free State government and even went so far as to send six pattern coins to the government for approval . These patterns were never approved and therefore never coined .
The patterns can be divided into three distinct issues: 1874 (a penny), 1887 (a silver kroon, with a unique copper pattern), and 1888 (a penny in multiple varieties and metals, struck primarily for collectors) .
1874 Penny
The earliest known Orange Free State pattern is the 1874 penny, produced in Berlin.
Specifications
- Metal: Bronze
- Weight: 9.74 g
- Diameter: 30.23 mm
- Mintage: Estimated 100 pieces
- Reference: Hern O1, KM Pn1, X# Pn1
Design
- Obverse: Tree between three bugle horns (symbol of the Dutch House of Orange), "ORANJE VRIJ STAAT" around
- Reverse: "EEN PENNY 1874" within wreath, "MUNTSPROEVE" (coin trial) below
Auction record: A superb MS65 Red example sold at Heritage NYINC Signature Sale 3121 (January 2025), described as "an incredibly attractive Gem specimen ... Very rarely encountered this mint fresh." The selection at hand certainly fits the part, with the fields entirely covered with die-polish lines .
1887 Kroon – The Legendary Rarity
In 1887, the private firm of L.C. Lauer of Nürnberg made a bid for a coinage contract for the Orange Free State. They authorized Otto Nolte of Munich to strike an extremely rare pattern silver Kroon for presentation purposes to the government . The bid was not accepted .
Silver Kroon
- Metal: Silver
- Weight: 29.81 g
- Diameter: 38.61 mm
- Mintage: Estimated 3 pieces
- Reference: Hern O4, KM Pn3, X# Pn3
- Numista Rarity Index: 97
Design
- Obverse: Coat of arms of the Orange Free State (ornamental type with indented base and sides), legend "ORANJE VRYJSTAAT" above, motto "GEDULD EN MOED" (Patience and Courage) on banner, date 1887 below. Designed by Wolfgang Lauer
- Reverse: Laurel wreath surrounding denomination "1 KROON", with "LLC" (Ludwig Christian Lauer) and "ESSAY" (trial) below
- Edge: Reeded
Unique Copper Pattern
An excessively rare copper pattern Kroon 1887 exists, which Hern lists as a "likely unique piece" . This very coin was sold at Dix Noonan Webb Auction 95-96 in November 2011 for approximately $175,000 . It was graded MS62 Brown by NGC and appeared again at Heritage NYINC Signature Sale 3121 in January 2025 .
Counterstamped Kroon – Imperial British East Africa Company
A fascinating variation exists: a silver Kroon counterstamped "I.B.E.A. Co 1888" with balance scales, and the Persian word ADLI ('the Just') for the Imperial British East Africa Company . Hern suggests there are only 10 pieces extant of this counterstamped type. Due to the strategic positioning of the counterstamp covering the word "ESSAY", these issues may have been used as currency .
1888 Pennies – Struck for Collectors
According to CNG, "The 1888 'pattern' Pennies, known in several different varieties and metals, were struck for collectors' interest, and are avidly sought as the only available representative coinage for this state" .
| Type | Metal | Weight | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain Shield (Type I) | Bronze | 10.21 g | Hern O8, X# Pn7 | PR66 Red & Brown NGC sold for estimate $2,000–3,000 |
| Elegant Shield (Type II) | Bronze | – | Hern O14, X# Pn6 | PR66 Brown NGC, "fiery reds and deep blues" |
| Waisted Shield | Bronze | – | Hern O14B | Thin planchet variety |
| Copper-Nickel | Copper-nickel | 9.1 g | Hern O11, X# Pn6c | PR64 Cameo, mintage ~20 pieces |
| Silver | Silver | – | Hern O13, X# Pn7a | Very rare off-metal strike |
| Aluminium | Aluminium | – | Hern O12, X# Pn7c | Extremely rare |
Design: The obverse features a waisted coat-of-arms with floral sprays and the motto "GEDULD EN MOED" on a scroll below. The reverse shows "1 PENNY" in a wreath, often with a small "V" or "LLC" below . The Smithsonian collection holds an example dated 1888, noting that the text "ORANJE VRYJSTAAT" is a misspelling of the Afrikaans name, and the orange tree and bugle horns represent the Dutch Royal Family .
The "Apocryphal" Controversy
In the 19th century, American numismatist Lyman Low called such pieces fraudulent, saying they "purport to belong principally to obscure and unimportant countries where detection would be comparatively difficult".
Modern scholarship takes a more nuanced view. As the CNG cataloguer noted, "in many cases, these so‑called 'apocryphal' coins are the only examples from these countries available" . The patterns are now widely collected as legitimate historical artifacts documenting a proposed but unrealised coinage. The fact that six patterns were actually submitted to the Free State government for approval lends them official context .
The National Museum in Bloemfontein holds an 1888 penny pattern in its collection, preserving this important piece of Free State history .
Sources
- Hern, Brian, Bothma, John & Peterse, Hercie. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9th ed.)
- CNG Triton IX Auction (2006)
- Numista – Orange Free State Patterns
- Heritage Auctions NYINC Signature Sale 3121 (January 2025)
- Havenga, S. & Wessels, A. "Die geldgeskiedenis van die Vrystaat, 1854-1902". New Contree 78 (2023)
- National Museum of American History collection