Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
August 2016 ANA Auction - Sess. A-C 10-12 August 2016
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SOUTH AFRICA. Pond, 1874. PCGS Genuine--Scratch, AU Details Secure Holder.
Fr-1a; KM-1.1; Hern-B2. Coarse beard. Struck at Ralph Heaton & Sons in Birmingham and from a mintage of 174. Thomas Francois Burgers (1834-1881) was a well-educated liberal Afrikaner churchman whose drive to speed the progress of the ZAR led to conflict with conservatives led by S.J.P. Kruger. He triggered violent controversy by presenting 50 examples of this Pond coinage to members of the republic's Volksraad (legislature). Conservatives accused him of abusing his executive power and excessive egotism by not consulting the Volksraad before proceeding with the coinage. The most conservative opponents charged that he had violated the Old Testament prohibition of graven images. After this uproar subsided, all future coinage was forbidden without prior approval of the Volksraad, and the coins on hand were offered to the public at two Pounds each. Burgers' government became increasingly ineffective in the years afterward, fumbling the BaPedi native uprising and continuing to muddle its finances. Burger was eventually ousted by the British annexation under Sir Theophilus Shepstone in April of 1877, and the ZAR lost its independence until Afrikaner rebels under Paul Kruger defeated the British in the first Anglo-Boer War. The Burgers Pond was soon a sought-after rarity and collectors of South African and Commonwealth coins have now pursued this coin for more than 140 years. One of the great RARITIES among 19th century South African issues, with many of the few surviving examples are ex-jewelry and far more impaired than what is seen here. Though graded as scratched by PCGS, a better description might be scuffed, as the limited damage seen in the obverse field is confined to a single broad shallow abrasion. An otherwise original example with generous amounts of luster remaining, particularly around the date but also surrounding the reverse legends. The portrait of Thomas Francois Burgers is clear and expressive, and conveys the same resoluteness that he exhibited in his personal affairs. An issue that is missing from many comprehensive collections of South African coinage, the opportunity offered here is one to be seriously considered. PCGS Genuine--Scratch, AU Details Secure Holder.
Estimate: $7000.00- $10000.00
Fr-1a; KM-1.1; Hern-B2. Coarse beard. Struck at Ralph Heaton & Sons in Birmingham and from a mintage of 174. Thomas Francois Burgers (1834-1881) was a well-educated liberal Afrikaner churchman whose drive to speed the progress of the ZAR led to conflict with conservatives led by S.J.P. Kruger. He triggered violent controversy by presenting 50 examples of this Pond coinage to members of the republic's Volksraad (legislature). Conservatives accused him of abusing his executive power and excessive egotism by not consulting the Volksraad before proceeding with the coinage. The most conservative opponents charged that he had violated the Old Testament prohibition of graven images. After this uproar subsided, all future coinage was forbidden without prior approval of the Volksraad, and the coins on hand were offered to the public at two Pounds each. Burgers' government became increasingly ineffective in the years afterward, fumbling the BaPedi native uprising and continuing to muddle its finances. Burger was eventually ousted by the British annexation under Sir Theophilus Shepstone in April of 1877, and the ZAR lost its independence until Afrikaner rebels under Paul Kruger defeated the British in the first Anglo-Boer War. The Burgers Pond was soon a sought-after rarity and collectors of South African and Commonwealth coins have now pursued this coin for more than 140 years. One of the great RARITIES among 19th century South African issues, with many of the few surviving examples are ex-jewelry and far more impaired than what is seen here. Though graded as scratched by PCGS, a better description might be scuffed, as the limited damage seen in the obverse field is confined to a single broad shallow abrasion. An otherwise original example with generous amounts of luster remaining, particularly around the date but also surrounding the reverse legends. The portrait of Thomas Francois Burgers is clear and expressive, and conveys the same resoluteness that he exhibited in his personal affairs. An issue that is missing from many comprehensive collections of South African coinage, the opportunity offered here is one to be seriously considered. PCGS Genuine--Scratch, AU Details Secure Holder.
Estimate: $7000.00- $10000.00