Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3042 17-18 Sep 2015
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South Africa
Republic gold Veld Pond 1902 MS64 NGC, KM11, Fr-4. Hern-Z54. Reported Mintage: 986. Thickly reeded edge. Die state with slash above "Z" on obverse. If the Burgers pond is the most famous coin of South Africa, then the "Veld" or "Field" pond, with its intimate hand-engraved design, must surely be second on that list. An artifact of the final stages of the Boer War, this type was produced from 24-kt gold to pay soldiers, and as the story is generally recounted, was literally coined at a makeshift mint in close proximity to the Pilgram's Rest battlefield. P.J. Kloppers, who had no professional experience as a die sinker, and had been previously employed as a school teacher, was tasked with the job of creating the dies. In doing so, he wisely opted for simplicity, illustrating only the the "ZAR" monogram, the date and the denomination, and in doing so, created one of crudest and yet most charming types of the 20th century.As can be expected of a type conceived from war, the majority of survivors for this issue were not lovingly cared for. Much like their Burgers pond predecessor, many found their way into jewelry; being inside soldier's pockets, they certainly weren't immediately funneled into collector cabinets. For that reason, exceptional survivors are rare. The present coin, among the finest we have seen, certainly qualifies as conditionally very rare. Its surfaces gleam with stunning originality, and the strike, considering the conditions in which it was made, is astonishingly sharp. No marks are seen, and in that regard, one must consider this piece a Gem. Without reservation, this piece is truly a great example of a great type -- certain to be a source of significant pride for its next owner. We wish all bidders the best of luck in their quest to add this treasure to their cabinet.The Read Collection Krause catalog price(s) for this item: $1500 in VF, $3500 in EF, $8500 in UNC.
Estimate: 40000-50000 USD
Republic gold Veld Pond 1902 MS64 NGC, KM11, Fr-4. Hern-Z54. Reported Mintage: 986. Thickly reeded edge. Die state with slash above "Z" on obverse. If the Burgers pond is the most famous coin of South Africa, then the "Veld" or "Field" pond, with its intimate hand-engraved design, must surely be second on that list. An artifact of the final stages of the Boer War, this type was produced from 24-kt gold to pay soldiers, and as the story is generally recounted, was literally coined at a makeshift mint in close proximity to the Pilgram's Rest battlefield. P.J. Kloppers, who had no professional experience as a die sinker, and had been previously employed as a school teacher, was tasked with the job of creating the dies. In doing so, he wisely opted for simplicity, illustrating only the the "ZAR" monogram, the date and the denomination, and in doing so, created one of crudest and yet most charming types of the 20th century.As can be expected of a type conceived from war, the majority of survivors for this issue were not lovingly cared for. Much like their Burgers pond predecessor, many found their way into jewelry; being inside soldier's pockets, they certainly weren't immediately funneled into collector cabinets. For that reason, exceptional survivors are rare. The present coin, among the finest we have seen, certainly qualifies as conditionally very rare. Its surfaces gleam with stunning originality, and the strike, considering the conditions in which it was made, is astonishingly sharp. No marks are seen, and in that regard, one must consider this piece a Gem. Without reservation, this piece is truly a great example of a great type -- certain to be a source of significant pride for its next owner. We wish all bidders the best of luck in their quest to add this treasure to their cabinet.The Read Collection Krause catalog price(s) for this item: $1500 in VF, $3500 in EF, $8500 in UNC.
Estimate: 40000-50000 USD