South Africa 1997 ounce
This specimen was lot 25709 in Heritage sale 3015 (Long Beach, September 2011), where it sold for $2,530. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic gold Natura 1-oz. 1997, Gem cameo Proof as struck, in capsule inside a green plush box, with COA. For all gold lovers, as it's .9999 fine pure gold." 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 Cape buffalo is depicted on this issue of 1997.
Recorded mintage: 2,472 plus 220 proofs.
Specification: 31.107 g, 0.999 fine gold, 1.000 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: KM 210.
- 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 and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3015, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2011.
- 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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