Collectors Corner
Collecting South African Numismatic Postcards
The initial postcard was produced in 1870 and rapidly became popular as an inexpensive and fast way to communicate. This, coupled with a passion for collecting, ignited the peak of postcard mailing from the early 1900s until the First World War. Postcards have mainly become associated with vacations and are gradually being overshadowed by modern digital communication methods.
In the early 1900s, a German businessman named Hugo Semmler issued a series of postcards that show embossed images of then-current circulating base metal, silver and gold coins of the world, with a handy exchange-rate chart showing comparable values for common currencies. These were produced in German, French and English. The postcards were distributed in South Africa by a local Johannesburg company named Braune & Levy. Postcards showing pre-Reserve Bank banknotes of South Africa were also distributed by this firm. Follow the link to discover more about this collecting field.
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Recent articles published by WCNS
Reader's Comments
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The Tickey – a legendary South African Coin: Great sleuthing - really enjoyed reading this. The word is much older than I had imagined - Mary
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Victorian-era Patterns of South Africa: These pieces have earned their respective place in South Africa history irrespective of perceptions. Lovely article -Morgan Carroll
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In Search of Napoleonic Treasure in the Karoo: Excellent article - Jan Rousseau
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Woman on South African Coins: Interesting, well worth a read - chrisnaH
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Silver Rarities of the Union of South Africa: Nice easy read very interesting - Mark Kaufman
Feature Article
It would seem that there is utter confusion in coin catalogues regarding exactly which Rhodesian coins were struck in proof condition. This is truly a mystery, as virtually all coin catalogues agree on the proof coins (and their numbers) of South African issues struck since 1923. This is not the case with Rhodesian coins, which were struck at the Royal Mint in London from 1932 and from 1964 at the South African Mint in Pretoria.
The author's research sheds more light on the subject and seems to have made a prickly discovery that is sure to raise a few eyebrows within the South African numismatic fraternity.
Well-known numismatist and author, Prof Francois Malan, made the following remarks in one of his publications:
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What coins did the Voortrekkers take with them when they set off North with their wagons in the 1830’s?
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Almost no numismatic literature is available on the monetary aspects of the Great Trek and the coins taken along by the Voortrekkers.
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This area requires research, as so little is known about the money used by the Voortrekkers during the first few years after the Trek.
Author Pierre H. Nortje took up the challenge and did some splendid research on this topic.
Seven Short Questions to a Fellow Collector
In this popular column, we send seven questions to random collectors and ask them to share their numismatic interests, knowledge, and tips.
For this instalment, we sent our questions to WCNS acting President Jonathan Odes, a keen collector and hobbyist who, like most collectors, also keeps an eye on his budget.
Below are the questions with Jonathan's answers:
Question 1: Tell us about yourself
My name is Jonathan Odes. I am single. I grew up in Milnerton in Cape Town and moved to Sea Point in standard 9 (grade 11) where I have lived ever since, except for an 8 year period in the mid/late 2000’s when I moved to Johannesburg for work.
Question 2: How and when did you become interested in collecting?
Collecting is in my genes, as my mother was always collecting things, and I have definitely inherited it from her.
My numismatic collecting started while I was in Jhb. I was walking past a coin shop and noticed some banknotes and coins in the window, so I walked in. I was fascinated that a purple R5 note could be selling for R5000. The guy in the shop explained Unc and replacement notes, and no security thread, etc. After that, I was hooked. I went home and searched for SA banknotes on the web, and bought some that day.
South African Rail Transport Coins, Tokens & Medallions
The construction of the first railway line in South Africa began in 1858 and connected Cape Town to Wellington.
Shortly thereafter, in 1860, the Natal Railway Company established a passenger and freight service connecting Durban to Harbour Point. This expanded with a line between Cape Town and Bloemfontein in 1890, and the Transvaal connecting to both Lourenço Marques and Bloemfontein by means of railway lines soon after.
This short paper rediscovers the 168-year journey of South African railways through the coins, tokens and medallions issued.
Political faux pas on banknotes
In November 1998, the Mauritian Rs1000 banknote design was changed, but was withdrawn less than a year later due to political incorrectness. The order of the three languages printed on the obverse of all the Mauritian notes was English, followed by Tamil and then Hindi. On the new notes, the latter two languages were reversed.
Politically incorrect note
Corrected note
The Tamil people found this unacceptable, and the notes were replaced with the correct design. Click the notes to zoom.
Western Cape Numismatic Society Announcements
The 2026 Annual General Meeting will be held on 21st February 2026. All members wishing to attend are kindly requested to contact us beforehand. The program will include a short presentation and the announcement of the winner of the Walter Bergman Trophy for Numismatic Endeavour.
Membership
Membership of the society is open to all and enquiries can be made through our Contact Us channel.
WCNS Archives
Our comprehensive library consists of SA Numismatic Publications and Government Gazette sections, 1870 - current in Pdf formats, with an added Category Section as a research finding aid. Follow the Library link in the Site Menu bar.
Featured Library Item:
By: Cdr Anthony-Glenn von Zeil
A concise publication on the background of the Defence of O’Kiep Medal, including a detailed chronology, a map of O’Kiep, with an extensive list of resources by this renowned author and historical researcher.
A further handy companion, Roll of the Apparent Recipients of the Cape Copper Company's Medal by the late medal expert, Don Forsythe, has also been uploaded.
Did you know?
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The Western Cape is the only one of the nine provinces to confer its own honours. Established by the provincial legislature in May 1999, the awards are the Western Cape Golden Cross and Order of the Disa (3 classes).
Photo: Russell Kaplan Auctioneers
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Approximately 1.5 million ½c coins were minted in 1969 using 1964 dies in an attempt to alleviate the shortage of these coins following the introduction of the second decimal series in 1965
Source: History of the Nickel Coins of South Africa
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On 20th September, 1941, the S.A. Mint received an order from the Free French Government for five million brass coins. No matrices or master punches were available and so the modelling of plaster models had to be undertaken locally. Mr Coert L. Steynberg was selected for this work. Below are photographic reproductions of the plaster models depicting the obverse and reverse designs of the coin in question. These two models are the first of their kind to be modelled in South Africa for coining purposes and consequently, they fall under the classification of “ highest rarity.”
Source: Institute of Certificated Engineers
A Focus on African Imitation Money
At a SANS meeting held in January 1966, one of the members displayed three imitation coins that surprised everyone. They were clearly not intended to be forgeries, but their purpose and origin were unknown. It was even suggested that the coins might have been made on Robben Island.
Pictures of the imitations, described as African Native Money, were later published in two Barclays Bank booklets and are shown below. (Click on the pic to zoom).
The first and second sets, which were published in two different booklets, are engraved differently and not the same sets of imitation coins, but were clearly copied from the same genuine coins.
A suggestion was also put forward that it is the same set of imitation coins, but engraved on both sides. We cannot know for sure, as we only have these photos as a record.
As to which type of coins were copied? We have added two images of the "young head" Queen Victoria coins issued by Britain from 1839 onwards as a suggestion.
Any additional info on these pieces will be welcomed by using the Contact Us channel.
Transvaal Erekruis 1876
South Africa's first Military Award for Valour.
It is common knowledge that the Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the British decorations system. It has been awarded since 1856 for valour to members of the British Armed Forces.
What is not common knowledge (actually for all practical purposes unknown to military historians over the past almost 150 years) is the fact that the Volksraad of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republic instituted a similar military Cross for Valour almost a quarter of a century before the outbreak of the Second Boer War.
A new booklet reveals the fascinating story of the Transvaal Erekruis, based on information the author, Pierre H. Nortje, sourced from old documents kept at the National Archives in Pretoria.
The publication of this booklet was made possible by a donation from the Western Cape Numismatic Society, to which all funds from the sale thereof will be donated back to the Society.