The Zimmer Collection of South African

Sale: Triton XII, Lot: 1082. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Monday, 5 January 2009.  Sold For $1980. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SOUTH AFRICA, Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. 1856-1902. AV Pond (7.81 g, 6h). Dated 1874. THOMAS FRANÇOIS BURGERS, head of Thomas François Burgers left, wearing fine beard; 1874 below head / ZUID AFRIKAANSCHE REPUBLIEK, coat-of-arms of the ZAR. KM 1.2; Friedberg 1. Fine, bag marks, once mounted. Very rare. Only 695 specimens struck listed.

The 1874 gold Pond was minted in Birmingham, England, by order of ZAR President Burgers, whose portrait is depicted on the coin. The production of this coinage was very limited, with only 869 pieces struck. Burgers supplied the 10.1 kilograms of gold for the coins, along with a portrait of himself and the ZAR coat of arms to be used in the coin’s design. This action proved to be highly controversial, since Burgers did not get prior approval from the ZAR’s Volksraad (legislative body). As a result, the Volksraad forbade the production of any further coinage without its consent, and Burgers’ dream of setting up a ZAR mint in England was not realized.