South Africa 1896 pond
This specimen was lot 32324 in Heritage sale 3081 (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $21,600. The catalog description[1] noted, "South Africa: Republic gold Pond 1896 MS63+ NGC, Pretoria mint. An immaculate Pond that comes heavily contested in Mint State, let alone in such a lofty choice classification, with this piece representing the single highest graded example of the type by NGC or PCGS. Some minor striking weakness is detectable to the upper portions of Paul Kruger's hair and the reverse eagle, as is quite common for the type, though it otherwise strikes the viewer as well-rendered and lustrous." 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 1892-1900 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: 235,000, a slightly better date.
Specification: 7.98 g, 0.917 fine gold, .117 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: KM 10.2, Fr-2, Hern-Z49.
- 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.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3081, featuring the Caranett Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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