South Africa 2005 100 rand
This specimen was lot 2029 in Goldberg sale 93 (Los Angeles, September 2016), where it sold for $1,763. The catalog description[1] noted, "South Africa. 100 Rand, 2005 Choice Brilliant Proof. For the Natura Series, The Hippopotamus. Housed in an ancient pottery clay case at the Mapungubwe world heritage site with leather engraved certificate of authencity, number 186 of 300 minted. Choice Brilliant Proof." 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 coin was denominated 100 rand. The hippopotamus is depicted on this issue of 2005.
Recorded mintage: unknown, all proofs.
Specification: 31.107 g, 0.999 fine gold, 1.000 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: KM 425.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date, 13th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2018.
- Hern, Brian, John Bothma and Hercie Pieterse, Hern's Handbook on South African Coins & Patterns, Ferndale, South Africa, 2013.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 93: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2016.
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