South Africa 1968 krugerrand
This specimen was lot 21483 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Anaheim, CA, August 2016), where it sold for $2,232.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "SOUTH AFRICA. Krugerrand, 1968. NGC PROOF-66 ULTRA CAMEO. SCARCE variety with both obverse and reverse frosted devices. Mintage of 1,044 with most surviving examples exhibiting some form of impairment. A SUPERB GEM PROOF ULTRA CAMEO example that is sure to draw attention." 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 krugerrand was introduced in 1967 as a one ounce gold bullion coin and was very popular around the world despite bearing the effigy of Paul Kruger, the chief exponent of apartheid. The white supremacist regime was ousted in 1989 but, amazingly enough, the krugerrand remained in production until 2012, tho in much reduced numbers. As competition for it, the South African government also marketed the Natura series, featuring various animals native to the region.
Recorded mintage: 20,000 plus 10,000 proofs.
Specification: 33.93 g, 0.917 fine gold, 1.000 troy oz AGW, 32.7 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-B1; KM-73.
- 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]Ponterio, Richard, The August 2016 Anaheim ANA Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2016.
- 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.
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