Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 14 14 Jan 2018
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World Coins, South Africa, George V, proof farthing, 1926, crowned bust l., rev. oat sprig and berries divide birds within circle (KM.12.2; Hern.S5), exceedingly rare, just 16 pieces struck only in proof state, certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 64 Brown, variegated mahogany brown surfaces, the reverse image of the facing birds exhibiting intense eye-appeal, a decidedly choice example of this, one of the great rarities of South Africa
This humble-looking coin offers a glimpse into South Africa's storied past. The reverse design features a pair of sparrows peering at each other, with a branch between them. The image stands for courage and strength in union. The symbol came out of the Second Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902. In a confinement camp in the Orange Free State, captured Boers being held prisoner found strength in a verse from the Bible, in Matthew, in these words: 'Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows'. After the war ended, some women who had been held in the camp asked General Jan Smuts if he would place the mossie, as the sparrow was known, on the lowest coin as a reminder that all the citizens of South Africa had value. Within a short time, the first regal coins were issued, and the farthing was chosen to bear this image, in remembrance of the war and as fitting symbol for the new, unified nation.
This delightful coin was originally part of the 6-piece set of proofs (KM.PS3) struck near the beginning of the regal coinage issued for King George V. All early proofs of South Africa are highly valued, and tend to be rare and keenly sought in high grade, but the proofs of 1926 are among the rarest of all issued during the 20th century. The proofs of 1926 are restricted to the farthing, penny, threepence, sixpence, shilling, and 2.5 shillings, but for all of these, except the farthing, coins were also minted for commerce. No 1926 proofs were minted for the halfpenny or the 2 shillings, which tends to suggest that the incomplete set was never intended for collectors but rather as, perhaps, proofs of record for museum collections. In order to complete a collection of South Africa's coinage, certain dates are truly elusive, including this 1926 farthing, as none was issued for commercial use. Only 16 proofs were minted, and these appear for sale infrequently and not always as choice as the presently offered coin.
($47500-55000)
This humble-looking coin offers a glimpse into South Africa's storied past. The reverse design features a pair of sparrows peering at each other, with a branch between them. The image stands for courage and strength in union. The symbol came out of the Second Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902. In a confinement camp in the Orange Free State, captured Boers being held prisoner found strength in a verse from the Bible, in Matthew, in these words: 'Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows'. After the war ended, some women who had been held in the camp asked General Jan Smuts if he would place the mossie, as the sparrow was known, on the lowest coin as a reminder that all the citizens of South Africa had value. Within a short time, the first regal coins were issued, and the farthing was chosen to bear this image, in remembrance of the war and as fitting symbol for the new, unified nation.
This delightful coin was originally part of the 6-piece set of proofs (KM.PS3) struck near the beginning of the regal coinage issued for King George V. All early proofs of South Africa are highly valued, and tend to be rare and keenly sought in high grade, but the proofs of 1926 are among the rarest of all issued during the 20th century. The proofs of 1926 are restricted to the farthing, penny, threepence, sixpence, shilling, and 2.5 shillings, but for all of these, except the farthing, coins were also minted for commerce. No 1926 proofs were minted for the halfpenny or the 2 shillings, which tends to suggest that the incomplete set was never intended for collectors but rather as, perhaps, proofs of record for museum collections. In order to complete a collection of South Africa's coinage, certain dates are truly elusive, including this 1926 farthing, as none was issued for commercial use. Only 16 proofs were minted, and these appear for sale infrequently and not always as choice as the presently offered coin.
($47500-55000)