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
The Strachan and Co tokens were 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 the late 1800s onwards -they were never recognized by the Griqua Government.
They were actively used as currency by all the people of the region, white, coloured, Griqua and African from around 1904. There are four known issues. The first two were the S&Co which circulated from the late 1800s or early 1900s and the rare S&Co MH from 1904.[5] They were used as the region's currency largely by the indigenous peoples 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.
- ¼d. Reverse inscribed '¼ Penny ¼': 1923, 1924.
- ½d. Reverse inscribed '½ Penny ½': 1923–1926.
- 1d. Reverse inscribed '1 Penny 1': 1923, 1924.
- 3d. '3' in wreath: 1923–1925.
- 6d. '6' in wreath: 1923, 1924.
- 1/-. Reverse inscribed 'SHILLING': 1923, 1924.
- 2/-. florin: 1923–1930.
- 2/6. Reverse inscribed '2½ SHILLING': 1923–1925.
- ½ sovereign, British type, but with 'SA' mintmark added: 1923SA, 1925SA, 1926SA.
- 1 sovereign, British type, but with 'SA' mintmark added: 1923SA, 1925SA, 1926SA, 1927SA, 1928SA, 1929SA, 1930SA, 1931SA, 1932SA.
King George V second coinage (1925–30)
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)
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
- ^ Hear the Tickey Bottle Tinkle, The Rotarian, June 1954, page 51
- ^ "'Decimal Dan' Sings: Catchy Tune Teaches New Currency". The Spokesman-Review. 10 January 1961. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ a b Rosenthal – From Barter to Barclays – Barclays Bank DCO: undated, c1967
- ^ Walker, A History of Southern Africa, Longmans: 1968
- ^ "Milner Snell's research on the Mountain Home Store".