South Africa 1979 2 rand
This specimen was lot 1968 in Goldberg sale 122 (Los Angeles, June 2021), where it sold for $504. The catalog description[1] noted, "South Africa. 2 Rand, 1979. Jan van Riebeeck. NGC graded Proof 66 Ultra Cameo." In 1960, South Africa withdrew from the British Commonwealth and in 1961 issued all new coins, dropping the bust of the queen for explorer Jan van Riebeeck. This type was issued 1961-83 along with a gold one rand, minted to the standard of a half sovereign. Sold to collectors and bullion speculators, this type never achieved the popularity of the krugerrand introduced in 1967. The first two rand coin struck for circulation was issued in 1998.
Recorded mintage: 12,000 + 20,000 proofs.
Specification: 7.99 g, 0.917 fine gold (same standard as a British sovereign). Weight 0.2355 ounce.
Catalog reference: Fr-11; KM-64.
- 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.
- 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]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 122: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2021.
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