Issuing Authority
Cape Province Education Department
Monarchs
George V (to 1935), George VI (1937–1939)
Denominations
Farthing (£1/4d) to One Pound (£1)
Complete Sets
$1,000–3,000+ (George VI)
Fibre Teaching Coins of the Union
"Model money" for South African classrooms – pressed fibre replicas of circulating coins used to teach children the £.s.d. system. Produced by the Cape Province Education Department from about 1930 to 1939, these are the only educational tokens that were produced using official mint dies.
Key Facts
- Officially: "Models of South African Coins" / "Modelle van Suid Afrikaanse Muntstukke"
- Pressed fibre, cardboard-like composition
- Minted using official dies (possibly from Pretoria Mint)
- George V (1931–1935) are extremely rare
- George VI (1937–1939) are more commonly found
Historical Context – Teaching Money in the 1930s
In the early decades of the twentieth century, the monetary system of the Union of South Africa was denominated in pounds, shillings and pence (£sd). For school children in the 1930s, there was a need for artificial money that could be used in the classroom to simulate business transactions in the real world.
From about 1930 to 1939, the Cape Province Education Department issued sets of pressed fibre coins to schools throughout the Cape Province, and possibly all four provinces of the Union of South Africa. The sets were officially titled "Models of South African Coins" (English) and "Modelle van Suid Afrikaanse Muntstukke" (Afrikaans).
According to C.L. Engelbrecht in Money in South Africa (1987), "the years of the real coins are the same as those of the fibre tokens, for example the George V farthing dated 1931 etc. This indicates that the fibre tokens were probably produced using the official dies at the Pretoria Mint." This makes them unique among educational tokens – they were struck using the very same dies as the circulating currency.
Purpose and Production
Why Fibre?
The tokens are made of a pressed fibre material, which is actually a cardboard-like composition (not plastic). This made them lightweight and safe for classroom use. They were never intended for circulation but purely as teaching aids.
Official Dies
Pierre H. Nortje of the Western Cape Numismatic Society notes: "The fact that the exact dates of the real coins appear on these fibre coins suggests strongly that they were produced using the official dies, likely at the Pretoria Mint. The 1931 George V farthing token, for example, corresponds to a real farthing year that is now extremely scarce."
The Sets – Denominations and Quantities
Based on original boxes that have survived, the Cape Education Department's fibre coin sets contained the following quantities per box:
| Denomination | Value | Quantity per Box | Colour / Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farthing | ¼d | 12 | Bronze-coloured fibre |
| Half Penny | ½d | 12 | Bronze-coloured fibre |
| Penny | 1d | 24 | Bronze-coloured fibre |
| Threepence | 3d | 20 | Silver-coloured fibre |
| Sixpence | 6d | 20 | Silver-coloured fibre |
| Shilling | 1s | 20 | Silver-coloured fibre |
| Half Crown | 2/6 | 10 | Silver-coloured fibre |
| Ten Shillings | 10s | 10 | Gold-coloured fibre disk |
| One Pound | £1 | 10 | Gold-coloured fibre disk |
Note: The ten shilling and pound tokens are larger gold-coloured disks, representing the gold coinage of the period. They do not have detailed designs like the smaller denominations but are plain with the value indicated.
George V (1931–1935) vs George VI (1937–1939)
George V Issues (c.1931–1935)
- Years identified: 1931, 1933, 1935
- The 1931 and 1933 tokens are extremely rare – none have been tracked in sales records, and very few are known to exist in collections
- The 1935 George V tokens are scarce but slightly more available
- These correspond to the actual scarce years of Union coinage
George VI Issues (1937–1939)
- Years identified: 1937, 1938, 1939
- These are the most commonly encountered fibre teaching coins
- Many more sets were produced during the George VI era
- 1939 tokens exist (real 1939 coins are also common)
Pierre H. Nortje's research for the Western Cape Numismatic Society (May 2024) confirms that the George V tokens from 1931 and 1933 are virtually unobtainable, while the George VI tokens appear on the market with some regularity.
Rarity and Collector Values
Complete Sets
Complete original boxes with all coins present are rare, especially in good condition with the box intact. The MTB South Africa Tokens catalogue by Dr. Morgan Carroll and Allyn Jacobs (2021) provides the following guidance:
- George VI complete set in original box – $1,000 to $3,000 depending on condition and completeness
- George V complete set (1935) – $3,000 to $5,000 (extremely rare)
- George V 1931 or 1933 tokens – individual specimens have not appeared at auction in recent decades; value indeterminable but would be significant
Individual Tokens
| Denomination | George VI (1937–1939) | George V (1935) | George V (1931/1933) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farthing (¼d) | $10–20 | $30–50 | No recent sales |
| Half Penny (½d) | $10–20 | $30–50 | No recent sales |
| Penny (1d) | $15–25 | $40–60 | No recent sales |
| Threepence (3d) | $20–30 | $50–80 | No recent sales |
| Sixpence (6d) | $20–30 | $50–80 | No recent sales |
| Shilling (1s) | $25–35 | $60–100 | No recent sales |
| Half Crown (2/6) | $30–40 | $70–120 | No recent sales |
| Ten Shillings (10s) | $40–60 | $100–150 | No recent sales |
| One Pound (£1) | $50–80 | $120–200 | No recent sales |
Auction Record Example: A complete George VI set in original box sold at a South African auction in 2022 for the equivalent of approximately $2,200.
Boxes and Packaging
Original boxes were typically sturdy cardboard with a hinged lid, labelled in both English and Afrikaans. The box lids featured the title and often had a printed label indicating the contents. Surviving boxes are themselves collectible and add significant value to the set. Condition of the box (wear, splits, missing labels) affects the overall value.
Identification Tips for Collectors
- Material: The fibre composition is distinctive – it has a cardboard-like texture but is denser and more durable than paper.
- Colour: Bronze, silver and gold tones are applied to the fibre surface.
- Date: Always check the date on the coin – this determines rarity and value.
- Monarch: George V tokens show the older king's portrait; George VI shows the younger king.
- Box: Original boxes are rectangular, typically with separate compartments for each denomination.
Sources
- Engelbrecht, C.L. Money in South Africa (1987).
- Nortje, Pierre H. "Fibre 'Teaching Coins' of the Union of South Africa." Western Cape Numismatic Society, May 2024.
- Carroll, Dr. Morgan & Jacobs, Allyn. MTB South Africa Tokens (2021).
- South African Mint historical archives.
- Personal collections and auction records (2020–2025).