It’s been a great start to 2025 for the lucky someone who sold off South Africa’s most valuable coin. The coin in question is the ‘Single 9’ Kruger Pond from 1898. And it is now officially South Africa’s most valuable coin after selling for $2.15 million (R40 million), reports Business Tech.
SOUTH AFRICA’S MOST VALUABLE COIN
Crucially, the ‘Single 9’ Kruger Pond is a piece of numismatic history, confirms Heritage Auctions which oversaw the sale. As a result, it is referred to as a ‘unicorn coin’, revered the world over for its rarity and fascinating historical back story, explains Landon History in the TikTok video above. In brief, South Africa’s most valuable coin dates back to 1898 and the start of the Anglo-Boer War. The ‘Single 9’ was struck at the Pretoria Mint. However, the reverse dies for the coin were seized by British forces the next year, 1899. Because of this, the Mint Master of Pretoria devised a solution. He crudely overstamped the year ‘9’ onto the 1898 coin using a single date punch.
However, as you can see, the lone 9 is too large and awkward on the coin bearing President Paul Kruger’s effigy. Subsequent coins received a smaller ‘99’ stamp, leaving the ‘Single 9’ Kruger Pond as a lone rarity. Furthermore, the coin was later gifted to US Consul General in Pretoria, as a symbol of South African Republic independence. The Consul General was a man by the name of Macrum. And he marked the original with a small ‘M’. The coin then disappeared from public view for decades.
KINGS AND PHARAOHS
Fast forward to 1954, and the ‘Single 9’, now bearing the Macrum ‘M’ resurfaces in King Farouk of Egypt’s collection. The king was known for his extravagant lifestyle. And, after hitting financial trouble, he held a hastily arranged auction at his Koubbeh Palace to drum up some much-needed funds. South Africa’s most valuable coin was acquired by Baldwin’s of London for Dr. Froelich of Port Elizabeth. Thus, reestablishing its South African roots.
It reappeared roughly every two decades thereafter on auction, with its value steadily climbing. In 1999, it reached R4.6 million and R9.8 million in 2001. Now, its most-recent sale marks another chapter in its storied legacy. A big part of its value comes from extensive documentation and correspondence from different eras. South Africa’s most valuable coin remains a treasured artefact with a value that’s only increasing.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER RARE COINS?
Of course, the South African Mint produces millions of coins every year and their value is exactly as advertised. However, occasionally, limited-edition coins are minted and if you get ahold of one, they could one day be worth a lot. But what makes a coin valuable and how can you confirm its value? In the coin world it’s all about ‘numismatics’. This is the study of coins, paper currency and medals. And value is attached to rare pieces on the following grounds:
- Historical significance.
- Artistic beauty.
- Tangible connection to history.
- Overall condition.
- Metal content.
- Rarity.
It goes without saying, but the better the condition of the coin, the higher the value. Coins made of gold or silver are in high demand, as their metal content guarantees a high value. Gold prices are at record highs, thus boosting the appeal of Krugerrands, for example. Similar to South Africa’s most valuable coin, many items with errors or anomalies carry a very high value. Hopefully, you’re sitting on a small fortune and just don’t know it yet …
HAVE YOU EVER BOUGHT/SOLD A VALUABLE COIN?
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