Collectors Corner
Collecting Silver R1 coins
Final Part – The Protea issues
The first silver R1 series was issued from 1965 to 1990 when the name was thereafter changed to the Protea series. In the new series, the coins were struck in .925 silver and not .800 silver and all years were produced by the Mint as both proofs and non-proofs.,
With one exception, all the issues show a Protea on the reverse, the exception being the 1994 R1 commemorating the Presidential Inauguration. Various themes are commemorated included centenaries, sport, nature and Nobel Prize winners. It must however be said that Mahatma Gandhi, one of the greatest apostles of peace, depicted on the 2008 issue, was never awarded the Nobel Prize.
The issue of 1997 commemorating women, won the prestigious Krause Publications "Coin of the Year" award.
Due to so-called “frosting errors” some varieties of issues are considered rare (e.g. 1995 & 2008) and are eagerly sought after by collectors of the series. A variety was struck in 2011 commemorating the author JM Coetzee, with some issues carrying the Sydney (Australia) mint mark.
In 2013, although still called the Protea series, the Nelson Mandela commemoratives were introduced showing his face (and not the Protea) on the reverse with various themes from his life depicted on the obverse. In 2019, the last of the series was issued. The silver R2 crown carried on for 1 more year up to 2020 when that series was also halted.
The only silver R1s that are currently struck are the silver Krugerrands, which were introduced in 2017. This is a very collectable series due to the various privy marks in certain years.
New releases - SA Mint
2025 Uncirculated mint packs
In more news, The Odyssey, a 24ct gold and fine-silver coins series, will be issued for the first time in 2025.
No pictures has been released as yet, but we can provide a link to the Gazette published on 6 June 2025 which states the dimensions etc of the upcoming series that includes a 1kg fine silver R50 coin, and a 24 carat 5oz gold R200 coin.
Friends of the WCNS
The WCNS is actively promoting the preservation of our heritage. Our national repositories are the custodians of historically important and irreplaceable items. We are aware of numismatic items that have gone missing from these repositories and urge anyone with information to get in touch via our Contact Us channel
Feature Article
The Gold Burgers’ Cross of 1874
South Africa’s First Presidential Award - Part 2
In February 2024, a paper on the gold Burgers’ Cross of 1874 was published by the Western Cape Numismatic Society. After receiving welcoming news regarding the cross, the author decided to write a short follow-up to his original paper.
Not only do we now know the whereabouts of one of the crosses, but we also publish clear photographs.
The new article, Part 2, also includes a further discovery, the Transvaal Cross of Honour, which the author believes is the first South African Military Award promulgated by the ZAR government in 1876. This award seems to have been overlooked by military medal historians and authors, and will rewrite medal reference books.
For another well-researched article, follow the link here.
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 Adrian Jordi, an award-winning collector and past vice-president of the WCNS. Below are the questions and his answers:
Question 1: Tell us about yourself.
My name is Adrian Jordi, originally from Johannesburg, then Cape Town, but currently I live in Bath, England. I am a semi-retired chemical engineer, with several related collecting hobbies which keep me remarkably busy. I was previously the vice-president of the Western Cape Numismatic Society.
Question 2: How and when did you become interested in collecting?
I am fascinated by history, antiques, and metallurgy, so the combination of these subjects fits perfectly with my collections of coins, medals, and banknotes.
I started collecting medals and coins seriously in about 2000, but I have had a small collection since childhood. Banknote collecting started later when I might need a new project to keep me engaged.
Question 3: What did you collect in the beginning?
This month's recommended publication
Z.A.R. Coin Pieces of Original Art
The 15-page booklet, published in 2008 by Ray Leppan, showcases the author’s collection of engraved ZAR coins by Boer POW's. The close-up photographs and attention to detail of 130 varieties, taken by renowned numismatic photographer Hercie Pieterse, serve as a tribute to these unique works of art.
A quality publication and a handsome addition to any numismatic library.
For token collectors - Extract from SANS 60th Anniversary Journal 2001
AMERICAN SWISS WATCH COMPANY
Known today as American Swiss Jewellers, this short article takes a look at the history and the tokens issued by the American Swiss company, which began operating its business in Lelie Street, Cape Town, in 1896. Three South African concerns have issued silver tokens, of which two, American Swiss Watch Co. and Bizuterie Jewellery Studio (Pty.) Ltd. were from Cape Town. Follow the link to read the article
We wind up our French theme with a fascinating discovery of Napoleonic treasure in the Karoo. Napoleon Bonaparte lived lavishly during his exile on St. Helena until the British government imposed strict restrictions on his household expenses. To maintain the lifestyle to which he was accustomed, alternative sources of funding had to be found, and he was persuaded to sell £25,000 worth of his personal effects.
A merchant in the town was approached to dispose of the old blue-and-white tableware and other silverware. However, all the large silver pieces had to be destroyed and sold only as silver scrap metal to prevent them from being distributed as souvenirs.
A number of the smaller, undamaged pieces were later brought to Beaufort West in 1836. These, along with several valuable medals and coins, were bequeathed to the municipality in 1921.
The author's superb research uncovers important facts about this collection. Read here...
Western Cape Numismatic Society Announcements
Membership
Membership of the society is open to all and enquiries can be made through our Contact Us channel.
A Short History of the South African Numismatic Society
The South African Numismatic Society, the forerunner of the Western Cape Numismatic Society, was established in 1941 in Rosebank, Cape Town. This article records the history of the two Societies up to the present day.
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:
Sea Treasure from the wreck of "The Meerensteijn"
Jutten Island, Saldanha Bay, Cape of Good Hope, 3rd April, 1702
Dr. F.K. Mitchell
Fun facts - Did you know?
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More gold sovereigns (83.4 million) were struck in Pretoria between 1923 and 1932 than all Krugerrands combined since their introduction in 1967 (60+ million).
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A 40-merit-point grading system was developed by prominent South African numismatists in 1975. Known as the Original Evaluation System (OES), it was used to evaluate proof Krugerrands.
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Counterfeits are copies of circulating coins, made with a lower intrinsic value than the originals and intended to deceive the general public, whereas forgeries are produced to be sold to collectors at high prices, based on rarity and demand.
Information obtained from various publications by Prof. D.F. Malan.
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New Book Release
Gouvernements Notes
By Rian Visser and Johan Gouws
This collectors guide has been a decade in the making, providing banknote collectors with a comprehensive resource related to information and research conducted on ZAR Gouvernements Notes issued during the Anglo-Boer war from 1900-1902. With high definition colour pictures, this A4 sized publication is highly recommended.