1874 to 1902

Even in their isolation from institutions, the Voortrekkers never completely abandoned the use of coins.  Jacobus Stuart, a Hollander, writes of the Transvaal settlers in 1851 - "The Dutch Afrikaners reckon in Ryksdalers, Schillings and Stuivers".  In an account in the report of Commandant A.H. Potgieter on his action against the chief Sokwali in September 1852 we find that besides the capture of cattle and a small quantity of gunpowder, a sum of 34 rixdollars, 5 schillings and 2 stuivers was seized.

As early as 1853 a petition to the Volksraad had conveyed a request "... to establish a Mint so that the inhabitants of the country shall be in a position to pay their taxation or arrears, for it is impossible without coin to pay taxation or arrears on farms, since the burgers are impoverished and exhausted.  They have given their goods and shed their blood for the country, and they want to be placed in position to give unto Caesar what is Caesar's.  Hence the undersigned request the Honourable Volksraad to comply with this ...".

In 1890/91 a lease was granted to the Nationale Bank of the ZAR to establish a State Mint in Pretoria.  The coins were to be identical in weight with the prescription of the British Coinage Act of 1870.  President Kruger, anxious to get the new coins in circulation had placed orders for coins dated 1892 with the Berlin Imperial Mint.

The first consignment of pounds, half pounds and crowns arrived with two shafts on the wagon and similar size front and rear wheels in the coat of arms.  This caused quite a stir and subsequent 1892 pounds and crowns were issued with correct single shaft wagons and size wheels.  Further consternation was caused by the Berlin 1892 issue.  As was customary, the designer Otto Schultz had placed his initials (O.S.) below the bust of Kruger, which is Afrikaans for ox.  The single shaft pound and double shaft crowns are the scarcer items.  A single shaft 1892 half pound surfaced in 1950's known as the "Menne half pond".

Listed mintage of the ZAR series do not tell the full story.  Due to the late arrival of dies made in Berlin, the known quantities of coins minted in a specific year are not related to the quantities of coins dated that year.  The first coins struck by the State Mint bear the date 1892, but they were not struck until 1893.  The scarcity of certain 1893 coins indicated that much fewer coins were struck bearing that date.  In addition no record was kept of quantities of specific dates melted, only total quantity of denominations.  Records available of quantities melted also do not account for the fact that certain denominations such as sixpences are abundant and other denominations such as tickeys are not. 

We have noticed a lot more interest in this period since the centenary of the Boer War.  It would appear that there may be vast fluctuations in perceptions and values.  The South African Coin and Banknote Catalogue attempts to reflect price trends and due to it only being published every two/three years, is not able to allow for specific spikes up or down.  When prices go up and remain there - catalogue prices will catch up.  Similarly when items are out of favour and prices remain down, future issues will reflect this.