Coins of the South African pound

The coins of the South African pound were part of the physical form of South Africa's historical currency, the South African pound. Prior to the Union of 1910, various authorities issued their own pounds, some as independent entities. After the Union but before 1923, coins in circulation were mostly British, but the coins of Paul Kruger's South African Republic remained in circulation. In 1923, South Africa began to issue its own coins, adopting coins that were identical in size and value to those used in Great Britain: 12 pence (12d) = 1 shilling (1s), and 20s = 1 pound (£1). On 14 February 1961 South Africa adopted a decimal currency, replacing the pound with the Rand.

The term "tickey" was used as a nickname for the 3d coin.^[1] It was also used for its replacement, the 2½c coin.^[2]

The introduction of the pound

The Cape of Good Hope was a Dutch Colony administered by the Dutch East India Company between 1652 and 1795. In that year it was seized by British forces, returned to the Dutch under the Treaty of Amiens, seized again in 1806 and seceded to Britain under the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814. After the 1806 seizure, the military administrator issued a proclamation prohibiting the export of coinage and fixing the relationship of the various coins in the colony.^[3] The relative values were:

Proclamation by his Excellency Major General Sir David Baird
	Skillings	Stuivers	Sterling
A Guinea	44	264	£1.2.0
1 Doubloon, 16 Spanish Dollars	160	960	4.0.0
A Johanna, 8 Spanish Dollars	80	480	2.0.0
A Venetian Sequin	19	114	0.9.6
A Ducat	19	114	0.9.6
Gold Mohur, 15 Rupees			1.17.6
A Pagoda	16	96	0.8.0
A Spanish Dollar	10	60	0.5.0
A Rupee	5	60	0.5.0
English Shilling	2	12	0.1.0
Copper Coin		2	0.0.2

During the succeeding years, British coins were introduced, but paper rijksdaalders which were nominally worth four English shillings continued to circulate until 1 January 1826 when British currency became the sole legal tender in the Cape Colony^[3] and paper rijksdaalders were redeemed at 1s 6½d each.^[4]

Nineteenth-century trade tokens

S&Co Coins

The Strachan and Co (S&Co) trade tokens were issued in denominations of 3 pence and 6 pence and 1 shilling and 2 shillings. There were four sets issued over a period of about 50 years. They are South Africa's first widely circulating minted indigenous currency.

The territory was occupied by the British Empire and became a colony in 1874. The S&Co tokens were issued by a trading store, Strachan and Company, in East Griqualand, after January 1875.^[5] However no evidence can be found that the Griquas recognised the S&Co as their official currency. Other less successful tokens were also in circulation. Interestingly, The Standard Bank of British South Africa^[6] in Kokstad must have held money in trust in exchange for tokens, as after annexation by the British in 1878 it could not accept it as legal tender. It thus acted as an agent for S&Co, by whom the tokens would be exchanged for legal tender. The tokens were restricted to the Strachan Company. The tokens could not lawfully be dispensed by Standard Bank as the Bank Act of 1844 restricted the issue of new banknotes and currency only if they were 100% backed by gold.^[7]

The S&Co were actively used as currency by all the people of the region and were only withdrawn from circulation nearly 60 years later in 1932. There are four known issues. The first set of S&Co circulated widely around the region. The second set, the rare S&Co MH circulated from 1904.^[8] They were used as the region's currency largely by the indigenous peoples while the two sets issued later (between c1910 and 1920) were marked "Ïn Goods" reflecting a change in purpose from general currency tokens to an exchange of goods at the S&Co stores. As imperial coinage became more readily available from the late 20th century these "Ïn Goods" sets were used to barter with the indigenous and Griqua people although the indigenous people continued to use them as their currency right up to 1932. The hole at top of later tokens, usefully, facilitating the bearer carrying the coin with his beads around his neck.

Transvaal

The South African(ZAR) or Transvaal Republic, the Boer state that in 1902 was to become the Transvaal Colony. The Transvaal issued coins bearing the bust of President Thomas François Burgers in 1874 and from 1892 to 1902 coins denominated as 1, 3 (or a tickey), and 6 pence; 1, 2, 2½, and 5 shillings; and ½ and 1 pond were issued bearing the likeness of President Paul Kruger.^[9] The last of these coins were issued in 1900, except for siege 1-pond coins issued in 1902. After Pretoria was occupied by the British several pond coins were minted in Pelgrimsrus using a handmade press that have become known as a veldpond.^[10]

Thomas François Burgers Era Coins

1874 Pond (£1): 837 coins were minted with gold from the Lydenburg district, of which 142 were minted with a 'coarse beard' pattern on the obverse.^[11]

Paul Kruger Era Coins

These coins were minted under the Presidency of Paul Kruger and bear his bust on the reverse and the coat of arms of the ZAR on the obverse.^[9]

Penny (1D/pence): minted from 1892 until 1898
Tickey (2D): minted from 1892 until 1898
Six Pence (6D): minted from 1892 until 1898
Shilling (1S): minted from 1892 until 1898
Two Shillings (2S):minted from 1892 until 1898
Half Crown (2.5S): minted from 1892 until 1898
Crown (5S): minted solely in 1892 with both a single and a double shaft
Half Pond (£1/2): minted from 1892 until 1898
Pond (£1): minted from 1892 until 1898
Blank Pond (£1): minted in 1900 with either a rim or without one
Veldpond (£1): only minted in 1902^[12]

Coins of the Union of South Africa

From 1923 coins of the Union of South Africa were struck at the Royal Mint, Pretoria. In 1941 the Government of South Africa took over the mint. It was renamed the South African Mint, although it continued to produce coins based on the British coinage for some years thereafter.

King George V first coinage (1923–25/30)

The 2/- was struck under both the first and second coinages of King George V.

¼d. Reverse inscribed '¼ Penny ¼': 1923, 1924.
½d. Reverse inscribed '½ Penny ½': 1923–1926.
1d. Reverse inscribed '1 Penny 1': 1923, 1924.
3d. '3' in wreath: 1923–1925.
6d. '6' in wreath: 1923, 1924.
1/-. Reverse inscribed 'SHILLING': 1923, 1924.
2/-. florin: 1923–1930.
2/6. Reverse inscribed '2½ SHILLING': 1923–1925.
½ sovereign, British type, but with 'SA' mintmark added: 1923SA, 1925SA, 1926SA.
1 sovereign, British type, but with 'SA' mintmark added: 1923SA, 1925SA, 1926SA, 1927SA, 1928SA, 1929SA, 1930SA, 1931SA, 1932SA.

King George V second coinage (1925–30)

1929 Penny

The reverse of all coins for this era were designed by George Kruger Gray.

King George V third coinage (1931–36)

The previous designs by George Kruger Gray for the reverse of all coins was continued.

King George VI first coinage (1937–47)

The obverse features the uncrowned King George VI design by T. Humphrey Paget. The previous reverse designs by George Kruger Gray for all coins was continued.

King George VI second coinage (1948–50)

George VI depicted on a 1943 farthing of South Africa

The obverse continued the previous design by T. Humphrey Paget and the reverse the previous designs by George Kruger Gray.

King George VI third coinage (1951–52)