Collectors Corner
Collecting Silver R1 coins
Part 2 - the non commemorative issues
In 1969 the last of the monolingual silver R1 coins were struck. It was also the year when the SA Mint issued the last R1 coins struck in silver for general circulation. In 1970 a new design for the reverse of the R1 (showing the Coat of Arms) was introduced being a modification of the design depicted on the 1969 issue.
This design was used until 1990, when the last of the second decimal issues were minted. (However, in some years, only commemorative issues were struck—these will be discussed in a follow-up section.) From 1970 to 1976, non-proof silver issues were included in the so-called uncirculated mint packs.
Proof coins were struck every year, with no non-proof coins issued from 1977 to 1984. In 1988, only 21 non-proof coins were minted, making it one of our country’s rarest coins, with none graded by NGC to date.
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
Reward offered
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
As numismatics is closely connected with history, archaeology, art history, and economics, the language and tasks of numismatics – its terms and techniques - can often be bewildering. From Zevenstuiver to hairline, Unc to Nimbus, find it here. It's the Oxford Dictionary of Numismatics - NNP Dictionary. Note, external link.
Feature Article
The Méreau Communion Token of the French Huguenots
Communion tokens were issued to members of the Reformed churches in the olden days to grant them entrance to church communions. The tokens also had other uses. For example, they were withheld from a parishioner under censure for some misdemeanour as a disciplinary tool until the church was convinced that the person had mended his/her ways.
Secondly, as in the case of the persecuted Protestants in France during the 17th century, they were used like a secret password (or passport) to exclude infiltrators who may have wished to spy on the congregation.
In this article, we discuss five tokens housed in the Huguenot Museum in Franschhoek, Cape Town.
In 1982, "The History of Professional Numismatics in South Africa" was published for the inaugural SAAND (South African Association of Numismatic Dealers) Trade Fair, held in Johannesburg from 15–17 April of that year. The article, written by Stan Kaplan, offers insight into the early coin dealers and "collector-dealers" in South Africa, dating back to as early as 1960.
Reprinted here in full with added notes and photographs by the author of this article, it highlights the important role that coin dealers play in furthering numismatics. Read more...
Seven Short Questions to a Fellow Collector
In our popular new column, we send our seven questions to random collectors and ask them to share their numismatic interests, knowledge, and tips. For this instalment, we sent the seven questions to Joel Potgieter, an enthusiastic and knowledgeable junior member of our society. Below are the questions and his answers:
Question 1: Tell us about yourself.
My name is Joel Potgieter, and I live in Somerset West, Cape Town. I am 16 years old, and I am homeschooled. I am a junior member of the Western Cape Numismatic Society.
Question 2: How and when did you become interested in collecting?
I must have been about 5 years old when I first encountered the concept that coins have collector value; I remember reading through a Cat in the Hat book called One Cent, Two Cents, Old Cent, New Cent, and after reading it, I started taking a closer look at coins that crossed my path. My uncle also had a coin collection, and each time I visited, he allowed me to choose one coin to take home.
Question 3: What did you collect in the beginning?
Why are there No Coins made of Osmium, the Rarest Precious Metal on Earth? - By Joel Potgieter
What is osmium? Osmium is element number 76 on the periodic table. It is a metal. It has the highest density of all the elements at 22.59 grams per cubic centimetre. In comparison, lead is only 11.34 g/cm3, and gold is 19.32 g/cm3.
It stands out from other metals due to its unique light blue colour. But possibly its biggest claim to fame is that it happens to be the rarest of all the non-radioactive metals on earth.
Read more about this rare metal.
In June 1961, the Afrikaans newspaper "Die Transvaler" published two articles about the Burgerunie medal after being contacted by the Africana Museum.
The museum had received inquiries from Dr. Isidor Kaplan, a well-known Johannesburg Africana collector and numismatist. He noted that he could find no one who could tell him when or why the medal was struck.
This well-illustrated piece presents new information about the history of this unusual medal. Follow the link to read the article...
Fun facts - Did you know?
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The lowest denomination paper money issued by the South African Republic was a 6d (5 cents) cardboard 'good-for' note, issued on 27 March 1869 and signed by President M.W. Pretorius.
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According to calculations of the Transvaal Chamber of Mines, the maximum value of the Kruger Millions was £1,872,237 or 445,771 ounces of gold. The statement from Captain Reichman at Machadodorp, "and some cars said to contain about £2,500,000 in bar gold," cannot be correct - Francois Malan: Kruger's Gold (2019).
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The first decimal coinage was struck before the national referendum of October 1960, on which South Africa's decision to become a republic was based.
Western Cape Numismatic Society Announcements
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:
Extract from the South African Archaeological Bulletin - 1992
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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.
Hern's Handbook on South African Banknotes and Papermoney - 2025
This handbook is recommended for beginner and seasoned banknote collectors alike. The catalogue is divided into two sections, Pre-Reservebank (before 1921), and Reservebank (1921 - present day). The catalogue contains banknote prices and information on variants, errors and condition.