South Africa 2002 50 rand
This specimen was part of lot 35056 in Heritage sale 3067 (Long Beach, September 2018), where it sold for $2,640. The catalog description[1] noted, "South Africa: Republic 4-piece gold Natura Proof Set 2002, Wild Cats, the Cheetah, consisting of 1/10, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 oz pieces, all Gem Proofs in capsules inside handsome original wooden display case, with COA (#275). Edition limited to 300 sets. AGW 1.8500 oz." 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. Starting in 2002, the half ounce coin was denominated fifty rand. The cheetah is depicted on this issue of 2002.
Recorded mintage: 2,295.
Specification: 15.55 g, 0.999 fine gold, 0.500 troy oz AGW, 27 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 412.
- 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.
- Hern, Brian, John Bothma and Hercie Pieterse, Hern's Handbook on South African Coins & Patterns, Ferndale, South Africa, 2013.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date, 13th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2018.
- [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.
Link to:
- 1999 1/10 oz Natura, greater kudu
- 2002 10 rand, 1/10 oz Natura, cheetah
- 2002 20 rand, ¼ oz Natura, cheetah
- 2002 25 rand, 10th anniversary of the founding of South Africa's national soccer team, Bafana Bafana
- 2002 100 rand, 1 oz Natura, cheetah
- 2004 10 rand, 1/10 oz Natura, caracal
- Coins and currency dated 2002