Jardines Galleries · The first ZAR silver · Six denominations · Berlin & Pretoria
1892 Silver Denominations.
The first silver coinage of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, struck alongside the gold Pond from Otto Schultz's dies in Berlin and — for two of the six denominations — partially in Pretoria from late 1892. The series runs from the modest 3d threepence (1.41 g) through to the imposing 5/- crown (28.28 g), with the same Kruger portrait on every obverse. The famous Otto Schultz "OS" controversy and the two-shaft / single-shaft die error are confined to the crown denomination; the smaller silver coins (3d through 2/6) carry the standard portrait without that history. The series continued under Pretoria production through 1897.
Six denominations · 3d to 5/-
Threepence · Sixpence · Shilling · Florin · Half Crown · CrownThe 1892 silver issue is the Republic's first complete silver currency, covering the full ladder from 3 Pence (the smallest fractional silver) through 5 Shillings (the imposing crown). All six denominations share the same composition — .925 sterling silver (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper) — and the same Kruger obverse by Otto Schultz.
Most were struck at the Royal Prussian Mint, Berlin; the shilling and florin were partially struck in Pretoria from late 1892 — making them the first silver coins ever struck on South African soil.
The same Kruger obverse
Otto Schultz portrait · OS controversy confined to crownThe silver series shares its obverse with the gold Pond — Schultz's bearded Kruger bust. The "O.S." initials controversy — read in Afrikaans as "os" (ox) — and the double-shaft die error are confined to the crown denomination (KM#8.2) and the gold Pond. The smaller silvers (3d / 6d / 1/- / 2/- / 2/6) escaped both controversies entirely.
Crowns alone exist in two die varieties: KM#8.2 Double Shaft (~4,300 mintage, the controversial issue) and KM#8.1 Single Shaft (~14,000, the corrected issue). (See the Double Shaft Crown and Single Shaft Pond.)
Overview
Six denominations · Two mints · One Schultz portraitThe 1892 silver issues comprise six denominations: the 3 Pence (threepence), 6 Pence (sixpence), 1 Shilling, 2 Shillings (florin), 2½ Shillings (half crown), and 5 Shillings (crown). Most were struck at the Royal Prussian Mint in Berlin, though the shillings and florins were partially struck at the newly established Pretoria Mint in late 1892 — making them the first silver coins struck on South African soil.
The obverse of all denominations features the bust of President Paul Kruger, designed by Otto Schultz. Schultz's controversial "O.S." initials appear on some denominations. The smaller silver coins (unlike the gold Pond and the crown) did not carry the double-shaft error — the wagon design problem was confined to the largest gold and silver issues, where the ox-wagon was prominent enough to carry the heraldic detail.
The series continued in Pretoria production through 1897, with mintages varying significantly by year. The 1892 issues are generally the most sought-after as the first year of production — and, for the shilling and florin, the year carrying the additional Pretoria-struck status.
Mintages & specifications
1892 issue · Six denominations · Crown split into two varietiesComprehensive year-of-issue reference. The shilling and florin mintages are documented (129,627 and 55,000); the smaller denominations and the half crown are "Unknown" in current public mintage records — preserved as such rather than estimated. The crown is split into two rows for its two die varieties.
| Denomination | KM# | Mintage | Weight | Diameter | ASW | Mint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Pence · 3d | KM#3 | — Unknown — | 1.41 g | 16.0 mm | 0.042 oz | Berlin |
| 6 Pence · 6d | KM#4 | — Unknown — | 2.83 g | 19.35 mm | 0.084 oz | Berlin |
| 1 Shilling · 1/– | KM#5 | 129,627 | 5.66 g | 23.7 mm | 0.168 oz | Berlin + Pretoria |
| 2 Shillings · Florin | KM#6 | 55,000 | 11.31 g | 28.5 mm | 0.336 oz | Berlin (some proofs) |
| 2½ Shillings · Half Crown | KM#7 | — Unknown — | 14.14 g | 32.3 mm | 0.420 oz | Berlin |
| Crown · Double Shaft | KM#8.2 | 4,327 – 4,357 | 28.28 g | 38.8 mm | 0.841 oz | Berlin |
| Crown · Single Shaft | KM#8.1 | 14,000 | 28.28 g | 38.8 mm | 0.841 oz | Berlin |
The crown · Two varieties
KM#8.2 Double Shaft (controversial) · KM#8.1 Single Shaft (corrected)Within the silver series, only the crown carries the OS controversy — the same Schultz die error that produced the famous gold Pond varieties. Both crown variants exist in roughly the same proportions as the gold pair: a small, controversial first issue followed by a larger, corrected continuation. The double-shaft crown is one of the rarest standard silver issues of the entire ZAR series.
5/– Double Shaft
~4,300Mintage · KM#8.2 · the OS-error issueThe controversial first crown, struck in Berlin from the original Schultz dies with the two-shaft wagon error and "O.S." initials below Kruger's bust. Only ~4,300 examples struck before the dies were corrected.
5/– Single Shaft
~14,000Mintage · KM#8.1 · corrected diesThe corrected crown, struck from revised dies with single shaft wagon and no initials. About three times the mintage of the controversial first issue, but still scarce by silver-coin standards.
Extremely rare presentation pieces
Proof examples of the 1892 silver coins are extremely rare and highly sought after. The florin (2 shillings) had approximately 50 – 60 proof examples struck, as documented in a Heritage auction catalog. A proof florin graded PR61 NGC sold for $2,585 in 2013.
Proof crowns are also known in both varieties — with approximately 25 proof double-shaft crowns believed to exist. These represent the highest collecting tier within the 1892 silver series, alongside the proofs of the gold Pond.
Auction records
Heritage · Catawiki · Noonans · Stephen Album · 2006 – 2024Recent auction activity. The 2013 Heritage proof florin at $2,585 remains the headline silver-tier result; the 2024 Catawiki single-shaft crown AU53 represents the strongest recent showing for the standard crown. Most fractional silvers trade in multi-coin lots rather than as standalone pieces.
| Denomination | Year | Grade | Realised | Auction · Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Shilling | 1892 | VF25 (SANGS) | €51 (2-coin lot) | Catawiki, 2024 |
| 1 Shilling | 1892 | Varied | £80 – 100 est. (lot of 5) | Noonans, 2012 |
| 2 Shillings · Florin | 1892 | Proof 61 NGC | $2,585 | Heritage, 2013 |
| 2½ Shillings | 1896 | F-VF | $250 est. (3-coin lot) | Stephen Album, 2024 |
| Crown · Double Shaft | 1892 | VF (ex-mount) | $250 est. (3-coin lot) | Stephen Album, 2024 |
| Crown · Single Shaft | 1892 | AU53 NGC | High premium | Catawiki, 2024 |
| Lot · 3d/6d/1/–/2/–/2-6/5/– | 1892–7 | VF-EF (23 coins) | £210 | Noonans, 2006 |
Variety notes
Key dates · Semi-key dates · Crown-only varieties- Shillings. The 1892 shilling had a mintage of 129,627 and is considered a key date for the denomination. Later years (1893 – 1897) had higher mintages and are more common.
- Florins. The 1892 florin had a mintage of approximately 55,000 circulation strikes plus 50 – 60 proofs. The proof tier sets the high value benchmark for the entire silver series.
- Half Crowns. The 1896 half crown is considered a semi-key date with a mintage of 205,480 — substantially above the 1892 documented figures, but still relatively scarce within the multi-year run.
- Crowns. Only the crown exists in both double shaft (KM#8.2) and single shaft (KM#8.1) varieties. The double shaft is significantly rarer at ~4,300 vs. ~14,000 mintage. The smaller silver denominations (3d through 2/6) did not carry the double-shaft die error; that issue was confined to the gold Pond and the silver crown.
- Catawiki — "South Africa. 1 Shilling 1892 VF25, 1894 XF40 ZAR, 2 Coins Lot," 2024.
- Catawiki — "South Africa. 6 Pence 1896 NGC XF40 ZAR," 2024.
- Catawiki — "5 Shillings 1892 ZAR Kruger Single Shaft NGC AU53," 2024.
- Noonans Mayfair — Auction catalogues: 13 Dec 2006 (Lot 625); 1 Oct 2012 (Lot 4091).
- Stephen Album Rare Coins — Auction 39, Lot 1830, 2024.
- Colnect — "South Africa: Coins" (last issue date 1897).
- Coin Varieties — "South Africa 1892 2 shillings" (citing Heritage 3026, Oct 2013).
- Coin Archives — "World Coins from Various Properties," September 2024.
- NGC Coin — "South Africa 5 Shillings KM#8.1 Price Guide."
- Hern, Brian / Bothma, John / Pieterse, Hercie — Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns.
- Cross-references: Single Shaft Pond (the gold companion · same engraver · corrected dies), Double Shaft Crown (the OS controversy in detail), Berlin Mint Connection (Royal Prussian Mint context · Otto Schultz biography), Pretoria Mint (the late-1892 Pretoria shilling and florin striking · first silver on SA soil), People Behind the Coins (Otto Schultz biography).