South Africa 1994 ounce
This specimen was lot 25541 in Heritage sale 3019 (Chicago, April 2012), where it sold for $1,840. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic Proof Gold Natura 1 ounce 1994, Lion, Gem Cameo Proof in the original case." 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 remains in production. As competition for it, the South African government also marketed the Natura series, featuring various animals native to the region. The lion is depicted on this issue of 1994, the first of the series.
Recorded mintage: 2,902 plus 775 privy marked.
Specification: 31.107 g, 0.999 fine gold, 1.000 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: KM 192.
- [1]Tucker, Warren, and Cristiano Bierrenbach, World and Ancient Coins sale 3019, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.
- 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.
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