South Africa 1932 penny
This specimen was lot 32309 in Heritage sale 3067 (Long Beach, September 2018), where it sold for $5,040. The catalog description[1] noted, "South Africa: George V Penny 1932 MS65 Red and Brown NGC. The single highest certified specimen of this type, highly desirable thus. Far more vibrant red in color than brown, this piece has survived with no wear whatsoever to the bold devices, lightly toned at the peripheries. Of immensely high eye appeal and very rare in this Gem state." South Africa, after a turbulent history between English and Dutch settlers and the native population, was constituted the Union of South Africa in 1910. Coinage commenced in 1923. The pennies, modeled on British half pennies of the sterling system, featured the Dromedaris, a Dutch sailing ship, on the reverse. This type, struck 1923-36 in three sub-types, is common. The date is fairly common but proofs are rare. With the collapse of apartheid, collecting South African coins is now respectable again.
Recorded mintage: 260,000 plus 12 proofs.
Specification: 9.5 g, bronze, 30.8 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 14.3.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2018 September 6-11 Long Beach Expo World Coins & Ancient Coins Signature Auction #3067, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
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