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Jardines Galleries Library → Afrikaans Numismatic Glossary
Language Reference
60+ Afrikaans terms

Coin Inscriptions

25+

Banknote Terms

15+

General Terms

20+

Dates & Numbers

20+

Afrikaans Numismatic Glossary

A comprehensive Afrikaans–English dictionary for South African coin and banknote collectors.

Quick Lookup

PondPound
TiekieThreepence
DisselboomWagon shaft
VeldpondField pound

Coin Inscriptions

  • Eendrag maak mag – Unity makes strength (ZAR motto)
  • Geduld en moed – Patience and courage (OFS patterns)
  • Gelykheid – Equality
  • Gouvernement – Government (ZAR notes)
  • Half kroon – Half crown
  • Half pond – Half pound
  • J.P. Kruger Staatspresident – J.P. Kruger State President
  • Krugerrand – Krugerrand
  • Munt – Mint
  • Munstproeve – Coin pattern (German, used on OFS)
  • O.S. – Otto Schultz initials (1892 double shaft)
  • Oranje Vrijstaat / Vrystaat – Orange Free State
  • Pond – Pound
  • Rand – Rand
  • Sent – Cent
  • Skilling – Shilling
  • Soewerein – Sovereign
  • Suid-Afrika – South Africa (modern Afrikaans)
  • Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank – South African Reserve Bank
  • Tiekie / Tickey – Threepence
  • Veldpond – Field pound (1902)
  • Vryheid – Freedom
  • Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek – South African Republic
  • Zuid-Afrika – South Africa (early Union Afrikaans)

Banknote Inscriptions

  • Banknoot – Banknote
  • Een pond – One pound
  • Goevernement – Government
  • Hierdie noot is wettige betaalmiddel – This note is legal tender
  • Minister van Finansies – Minister of Finance
  • Reserwebank – Reserve Bank
  • Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank – South African Reserve Bank
  • Tien rand – Ten rand
  • Twintig rand – Twenty rand
  • Vyf rand – Five rand
  • Wettige betaalmiddel – Legal tender

General Numismatic Terms

  • bewaring – preservation
  • dubbel disselboom – double shaft (error)
  • disselboom – wagon shaft
  • enkel disselboom – single shaft (correct)
  • erts – ore
  • goud – gold
  • gravering – engraving
  • half kroon – half crown
  • half pond – half pound
  • herdenkingsmunt – commemorative coin
  • keersy – reverse (coin)
  • kopers – buyers
  • koper – copper
  • lood – lead
  • munt – coin, mint
  • muntmeester – mint master
  • muntstuk – coin
  • nikel / nikkel – nickel
  • on / ons – ounce
  • opdrag – inscription, legend
  • proef – proof (coin)
  • proefstuk – pattern coin
  • rand – edge (of coin), also currency
  • silwer – silver
  • skaars – scarce, rare
  • staaf – bar (bullion)
  • staatsmunt – state mint
  • stempel – die (coin die)
  • versamelaar – collector
  • versameling – collection
  • waarde – value
  • wettig – legal
  • wissel – exchange, change

Months and Numbers

Months

  • Januarie – January
  • Februarie – February
  • Maart – March
  • April – April
  • Mei – May
  • Junie – June
  • Julie – July
  • Augustus – August
  • September – September
  • Oktober – October
  • November – November
  • Desember – December

Numbers

  • een – one
  • twee – two
  • drie – three
  • vier – four
  • vyf – five
  • ses – six
  • sewe – seven
  • agt – eight
  • nege – nine
  • tien – ten
  • twintig – twenty
  • vyftig – fifty
  • honderd – hundred
  • duisend – thousand

Sources

  • Hern, Brian. Standard Catalogue of South African Coins.
  • South African Mint publications.
  • Western Cape Numismatic Society.

Revision History

22 Feb 2026Initial build

© 2026 South African Numismatic Library – A division of Jardines Galleries