South Africa 1893 1/2 pond
This specimen was lot 74601 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2023), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "SOUTH AFRICA. 1/2 Pound, 1893. Pretoria Mint. NGC EF-40. A wholesome specimen, and notably avoiding the faults that often plague the type, this example delivers clear details and just a limited amount of wear on the surfaces. A pleasing and tremendous example, and we expect any specialist in the South African series to seek to add this piece to their collection." South Africa, after a turbulent history between English and Dutch settlers and the native population, was constituted the Union of South Africa in 1910. This coin was issued 1892-97 by the Afrikaner republic before its conquest by the British. With the collapse of apartheid, collecting South African coins is now respectable again.
Recorded mintage: unknown but a rare date.
Specification: 3.99 g, 0.917 fine gold, .117 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-3; KM-9.2.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Hern, Brian, John Bothma and Hercie Pieterse, Hern's Handbook on South African Coins & Patterns, Ferndale, South Africa, 2013.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
Link to: