Mints
Berlin (1892) & Pretoria (1893‑1900)
Gold
Pond (7.99g), Half Pond (3.99g)
Silver
3d to Crown (28.28g)
Total Value
Rarities market exceeds R100M+
ZAR Coinage (1892‑1902)
The coinage of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek – from the legendary 1892 double shaft errors to the 1902 Veldpond, the last coin of the Boer Republic. One of the most fascinating series in world numismatics.
The "Big Five" ZAR Rarities
- 1898 Sammy Marks Tickey – Gold off-metal strike, 215 minted
- 1892 Double Shaft Half Pond – Mintage 10,025, key gold rarity
- 1874 Burgerspond – First SA gold, 837 total
- 1899 "Single 9" Pond – Unique, R20M+
- 1902 Veldpond – Emergency war coin, 986 minted
The Collector's Paradox – Understanding ZAR Rarity
Before building a ZAR set, collectors must understand one of the most counter-intuitive facts about the series: lower mintage does not always mean higher value.
️ 1892: The Berlin Years
The Pretoria Mint was not yet operational, so President Paul Kruger contracted the Royal Prussian Mint in Berlin to strike the Republic's first coinage. Engraver Otto Schultz made critical errors on the higher denominations:
- Double shaft: European cart design instead of the correct single-shaft disselboom
- "O.S." initials: Placed on Kruger's bust – "os" means "ox" in Afrikaans
Survival: 1892 coins were saved in large numbers by collectors from the moment they were issued. Despite lower mintages, many high-grade examples survive today.
🇿🇦 1893-1897: The Pretoria Mint Era
From 1893 onward, the Pretoria Mint became fully operational. All coins feature the corrected, definitive design with single shaft and no initials.
- Workhorse currency: These coins circulated heavily for decades until replaced by Union coinage in 1923
- Key dates: 1893 Florin (106,951 minted) – finest known PCGS MS64 at R650,000
Result: Far fewer high-grade examples of 1893-1897 coins survive, making condition rarity the true driver of value.
🔍 New Research: The Gold Behind the Coins
1892
Berlin Mint
The Gold Behind the Coins: Sources of the 1892 ZAR Coinage and the Birth of the Veldpond
Where did the gold come from for the 1892 coins struck in Berlin? Was it Transvaal gold shipped to Germany, or did the Berlin Mint use its own reserves? And how did Boer fighters in the veld at Pilgrim's Rest melt down gold nuggets and bars to create the legendary 1902 Veldpond? This new research examines the origins of the gold and the remarkable circumstances of its minting.
Market Insights & Recent Auction Records
ZAR coins remain among the most actively traded and highly sought-after series in world numismatics. Specialist auction houses like Bassani's (est. 2023) and EWAAN Galleries conduct multiple sales annually, offering impressive selections of ZAR, Union and Decimal coins [citation:1][citation:2].
Notable Recent Sales
| Coin | Grade | Price Realized | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 Florin | PCGS MS64 | R650,000 | Current |
| Sammy Marks Tickey | NGC MS63 | $24,000 | 2025 |
| 1892 Double Shaft Crown | PR64 PCGS | $15,600 | 2022 |
| 1902 Veldpond | NGC MS65 | $33,600 | 2024 |
| 1892 Proof Set | PR63‑65 | £65,000 | 2006 |
Market Outlook: The South African numismatic market continues to strengthen with increased international participation via online platforms. Mobile apps from Bassani's, EWAAN and Randcoin allow collectors worldwide to participate in live auctions [citation:1][citation:8].
Gold Coins – Specifications & Values
1 Pond (7.99g, 22mm, .917 gold)
- 1892 Double Shaft – Mintage ~16,000, VF $5,000‑8,000
- 1892 Single Shaft – Mintage ~10,150, VF $900‑1,200
- 1893‑1900 – Common dates $850‑1,000 VF
Key dates: 1893 (62,000 minted), 1899 overdate, 1900 (33,000)
½ Pond (3.99g, 19.4mm, .917 gold)
- 1892 Double Shaft – Mintage 10,025, R9 rarity
- 1893‑1897 – 1893 key date, 50,014 minted
1893 Half Pond: VF $4,000‑5,000, EF $8,000‑10,000
Other Gold
- 1898 Sammy Marks Tickey – 215 minted, MS63 $24,000
- 1902 Veldpond – 986 minted, MS65 $33,600
Silver Coins
Crown (5 Shillings) – 28.28g, 39mm
- 1892 Double Shaft – Mintage 4,357, VF $1,500‑2,500
- 1892 Single Shaft – Mintage 14,000, VF $800‑1,200
Other Silver Denominations
- 1892 Silver – 3d, 6d, 1/-, 2/-, 2/6
- 1893‑1897 Silver – Complete mintages and values
Key date: 1893 Florin – PCGS MS64 finest known at R650,000
Bronze
- 1892 Penny
- 1893‑1897 Penny – 1898 key date
Proof Issues
- 1892 Proof Set – 9 coins, less than 10 complete sets known
Proof mintages: Pond ~10, Half Pond ~20, Crown 25‑30, Florin 50‑60
Where to Buy ZAR Coins
Specialist Auction Houses
- Bassani's Auction House – Established 2023, South Africa's leading specialist auction house for rare coins. Conducts multiple sales annually focusing on ZAR, Union and Decimal issues. Founder Dillon Bassani brings deep-rooted passion and extensive knowledge [citation:2]. Features mobile app bidding [citation:5].
- EWAAN Galleries – Founded 2004 by Ahmed Tayob, Africa's largest numismatic auctioneer. Over 20 years of experience, won Bid or Buy top seller award 2010 [citation:1].
- Randcoin / Vintage Collector Auctions – Based in Randburg, one-stop auction house for coins and banknotes with mobile app bidding [citation:8].
Trusted Retailers
- The Scoin Shop – 25 years in business since 1999. Exclusive relationships with international mints including Royal Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint. Members of American Numismatic Association [citation:3].
- Carlton Centre Coin Exchange – Located in Johannesburg's iconic Carlton Centre, offers appraisals and education [citation:6].
- Randburg Coin – Founding SAAND member since 1981 [citation:2]
- Gary Beukman Coins – ZAR specialist
Essential ZAR References
- Levine, Elias. "The Coinage and Counterfeits of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek" (1974) – The foundational work for ZAR collectors, featuring comprehensive information on forgeries [citation:2]
- Becklake, J.T. "The Coinage of the South African Republic" (1965) – Mintage research
- Hern, Brian. "The Standard Catalogue of South African Coins" – Annual