Jardines Galleries · Language reference · Four categories · 65+ terms
Afrikaans Numismatic Glossary.
An Afrikaans – English dictionary for South African coin and banknote collectors. Many SA coins and notes carry Afrikaans inscriptions — particularly Union (1923 – 1960), the bilingual decimal era (1965 – 1969), and the older Dutch-Afrikaans ZAR (1892 – 1902) issues, where the spelling sits closer to early Dutch than to modern Afrikaans. Four categories: coin inscriptions, banknote inscriptions, general numismatic terms, and months and numbers. The companion main Glossary handles the English terminology and grading vocabulary.
— Quick lookup · The four most-encountered terms —
PondPound
TiekieThreepence
DisselboomWagon shaft
VeldpondField pound
— Two spellings · Dutch-Afrikaans ZAR → modern Afrikaans —
ZAR 1892 – 1902Zuid Afrika→ModernSuid-Afrika
ZAR 1892 – 1902Vrijstaat→ModernVrystaat
Older ZAR-era inscriptions use Dutch-Afrikaans spelling — z's where modern Afrikaans uses s's, ij where modern uses y. Both spellings appear on legitimate South African coinage depending on era. Reading older issues, expect the Dutch-Afrikaans forms.
Coin inscriptions
Mottos · Denominations · Authorities · State names
Inscriptions appearing on South African coinage from the ZAR era through to the modern Mint. Where a term anchors a Library leaf page, the entry links through. The Eendrag maak mag motto, the O.S. initials, and the Veldpond are the three most-asked terms in this category.
— Mottos & authorities —
Eendrag maak mag—Unity makes strength. The ZAR motto; appears on the 1892 Crown.
Geduld en moed—Patience and courage. Used on Orange Free State patterns.
Gelykheid—Equality.
Gouvernement—Government. Appears on ZAR notes.
J.P. Kruger Staatspresident—J.P. Kruger, State President. Standard ZAR obverse legend.
Vryheid—Freedom.
— Denominations —
Half kroon—Half crown (2½ shillings).
Half pond—Half pound.
Krugerrand—Krugerrand. Maré's 1967 portmanteau of "Kruger" + "rand".
Inscriptions on South African banknotes — particularly Union-era and modern SARB issues. Wettige betaalmiddel (legal tender) is the phrase to recognise first; the rest follows from there.
— Authority & identity —
Banknoot—Banknote.
Goevernement—Government.
Minister van Finansies—Minister of Finance. Signature line on Union-era issues.
Reserwebank—Reserve Bank.
Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank—South African Reserve Bank.
— Denominations & legal tender —
Een pond—One pound. Pre-1961 denominations.
Vyf rand—Five rand.
Tien rand—Ten rand.
Twintig rand—Twenty rand.
Wettige betaalmiddel—Legal tender. The key phrase to recognise.
Hierdie noot is wettige betaalmiddel—"This note is legal tender." Full statutory line.
General numismatic terms
Materials · Process · Catalogue language · Variety vocabulary
The workshop vocabulary — materials (goud, silwer, koper), processes (stempel, gravering), the variety language for ZAR (disselboom, enkel disselboom, dubbel disselboom), and the catalogue terms (versamelaar, herdenkingsmunt, proefstuk) that appear in Afrikaans-language sources.
— Materials & metals —
erts—ore.
goud—gold.
koper—copper.
lood—lead.
nikel / nikkel—nickel.
silwer—silver.
staaf—bar (bullion).
— Process & production —
gravering—engraving.
munt—coin · mint.
muntmeester—mint master.
muntstuk—coin (object).
proef—proof (coin finish).
proefstuk—pattern coin.
staatsmunt—state mint.
stempel—die (coin die).
— Variety vocabulary —
disselboom—wagon shaft. The focal element of the 1892 variety.
For reading dates on banknotes & mint correspondence
Useful primarily for banknote dates and Afrikaans-language mint correspondence. Coin dates are typically Arabic numerals, but signed banknotes and archival documents use written-out 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
Standard catalogues · Mint publications · Society references
— Reference works for this glossary —
Hern, Brian.Standard Catalogue of South African Coins. The canonical reference for SA numismatic terminology.
South African Mint publications. Annual reports and design correspondence — Afrikaans/English bilingual where applicable.
Western Cape Numismatic Society. Society publications including the Nortje 2023 ZAR analysis.
Revision history
Build dates · Editorial updates
22 Feb 2026Initial build · four categories · 65+ Afrikaans terms
