Whole Coin Set South African Historic Gold Collection - 8 Coins

Buy the South African Mint Historic Gold Collection

Issued by The Royal Mint in 2007, this eight coin collection contains gold coins produced at the Mint in Pretoria. Struck in 22 carat gold, the set contains:

• Full gold sovereign x 2
• Half sovereign x 2
• £1 pound coin
• £1/2 pound coin
• 2 Rand coin
• 1 Rand Coin

This South African gold coin collection was issued to an issue limit of 100 sets. 

Brief South African History

South Africa was first discovered by Bartholemew Diaz in 1488, but was not settled until 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company. Cape Colony was captured by Great Britain in 1795. In the Great Trek, the Boers moved northward starting in 1836, establishing the Transvaal in 1852, and Orange Free State in 1854. Discoveries of diamonds and gold in these regions led to the two Boer Wars from 1880 to 1902, leading to the incorporation of both areas into the British Empire. In 1910, Cape of Good Hope and Natal were also incorporated to form the Union of South Africa, a British dominion, which was recognised as a sovereign state in 1934.

South African Rand

Afrikaner unrest led to a referendum calling for relinquishment of dominion status, and South Africa became a republic on May 31st 1961. As part of this changeover, the country abandoned the pound as its currency and adopted the decimalised rand. The exchange rate was 2 rand to the pound, making 1 rand worth 10 shillings.

As such, the gold bullion 2R and 1R coins have exactly the same specifications as the British sovereign and half sovereign coins respectively.

The obverse of each coin features:

Sovereigns and Half Sovereigns - feature the portrait of King George V by Bertram Mackennal.

One Pound £1 and Half Pound £1/2 - feature the portrait of Elizabeth II by Mary Gillick

Two Rand and One Rand - feature portrait of Jan van Riebeeck

The reverse of each coin features:

Sovereigns and Half Sovereigns - feature St George and the Dragon by Benedetto Pistrucci

One Pound £1 and Half Pound £1/2 - feature the Springbok, the national animal of South Africa

Two Rand and One Rand - feature the Springbok, the national animal of South Africa