Coins of the South African pound

The coins of the South African pound were part of the physical form of South Africa's historical currency, the South African pound. Prior to the Union of 1910, various authorities issued their own pounds, some as independent entities. After the Union but before 1923, coins in circulation were mostly British, but the coins of Paul Kruger's South African Republic remained in circulation. In 1923, South Africa began to issue its own coins adopting a coins that were identical in size and value to those used in Great Britain: 12 pence (12d) = 1 shilling (1s), and 20s = 1 pound (£1). On 14 February 1961 South Africa adopted a decimal currency replacing the pound with the Rand.

The term "tickey" was used as a nickname for the 3d coin.[1] It was also used for its replacement, the 2½c coin.[2]

The Introduction of the Pound

The Cape of Good Hope was a Dutch Colony administered by the Dutch East India Company between 1652 and 1795. In that year it was seized by British forces, returned to the Dutch under the Treaty of Amiens, seized again in 1806 and seceded to Britain under the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814. After the 1806 seizure, the military administrator issued a proclamation prohibiting the export of coinage and fixing the relationship of the various coins in the colony.[3] The relative values were:

Proclamation by his Excellency Major General Sir David Baird
Skillings Stuivers Sterling
A Guinea 44 264 £1.2.0
1 Doubloon, 16 Spanish Dollars 160 960 4.0.0
A Johanna, 8 Spanish Dollars 80 480 2.0.0
A Venetian Sequin 19 114 0.9.6
A Ducat 19 114 0.9.6
Gold Mohur, 15 Rupees 1.17.6
A Pagoda 16 96 0.8.0
A Spanish Dollar 10 60 0.5.0
A Rupee 5 60 0.5.0
English Shilling 2 12 0.1.0
Copper Coin 2 0.0.2

During the succeeding years, British coins were introduced, but paper Rixdaalers which were nominally worth four English shillings continued to circulate until 1 January 1826 when British currency became the sole legal tender in the Cape Colony[3] and paper Rixdaalers were redeemed at 1s 6½d each.[4]

Nineteenth Century Trade Tokens

S&Co Coins

The Strachan and Co tokens were South Africa's first indigenous currency, issued in denominations of 3 and 6 pence and 1 and 2 shillings.

The Strachan and Co trade tokens were issued by a trading store, Strachan and Company in East Griqualand from 1874 onwards and recognised by the Griqua Government. Confirmation that the Strachan and Co circulated as money in the region at this time comes from the local Standard Bank at Kokstad.[5] and the owners of Strachan and Co [6] (See more in links at bottom of this page).

They were actively used as currency by all the people of the region, white, coloured, Griqua and African. After the territory was annexed by the British in 1878 the tokens continued to be accepted across the region until 1932 when they were outlawed. There are four known issues. The first two were the S&Co which circulated from 1874 and the rare S&Co MH from 1878. They were used as the region's currency while the two sets issued later being marked "Ïn Goods" reflecting a change in purpose. As imperial coinage became more readily available from the late 19th century these "Ïn Goods" sets were used to barter with the indigenous and Griqua people although the indigenous people continued to use them as their currency right up to 1932.

Transvaal

The South African or Transvaal Republic, the Boer state that in 1902 was to become Transvaal Colony, issued coins from 1892 to 1902, denominated 1, 3, and 6 pence; 1, 2, 2½, and 5 shillings; and ½ and 1 pond. The last of these coins were issued in 1900, except for siege 1-pond coins issued in 1902.


Coins of the Union of South Africa

From 1923 coins of the Union of South Africa were struck at the Royal Mint, Pretoria. In 1941 the Government of South Africa took over the mint. It was renamed the South African Mint, although it continued to produce coins based on the British coinage for some years thereafter.

King George V first coinage (1923–25/30)

The 2/- was struck under both the first and second coinages of King George V.

King George V second coinage (1925–30)

1929 Penny

The reverse of all coins for this era were designed by George Kruger Gray.

King George V third coinage (1931–36)

The previous designs by George Kruger Gray for the reverse of all coins was continued.

King George VI first coinage (1937–47)

The obverse features the uncrowned King George VI design by T. Humphrey Paget. The previous reverse designs by George Kruger Gray for all coins was continued.

King George VI second coinage (1948–50)

George VI depicted on a 1943 farthing of South Africa

The obverse continued the previous design by T. Humphrey Paget and the reverse the previous designs by George Kruger Gray.

King George VI third coinage (1951–52)

The obverse continued the previous design by T. Humphrey Paget and the reverse the previous designs by George Kruger Gray.

Queen Elizabeth II coinage (1953–60)

The obverse features the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Mary Gillick, while the reverse continued the previous designs by George Kruger Gray.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hear the Tickey Bottle Tinkle, The Rotarian, June 1954, page 51
  2. ↑ "'Decimal Dan' Sings: Catchy Tune Teaches New Currency". The Spokesman-Review. 10 January 1961. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  3. 1 2 Rosenthal – From Barter to Barclays – Barclays Bank DCO: undated, c1967
  4. ↑ Walker, A History of Southern Africa, Longmans: 1968
  5. ↑ "Standard Bank 125th Anniversary brochure in PDF form - see 2nd page" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-06-17.
  6. ↑ "Ken Strachan Managing Director of Strachan and Co confirm date of 1874". Retrieved 2014-06-17.

External links

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