Watch List notes:

South Africa - Burgers Pond 1874, Gold, THOMAS François BURGERS 1872–1877, South African Republic - Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek Head left, coarse beard. Rev. flagged arms above banner, eagle above.Hern. B2; Fr.1a; KM. 1.1.The Burgers 'staatspond' of 1874 was the first coin ever struck for a South African government. It was struck from some of the first gold ever found in the country, which was to become the world's richest source of this precious metal. It is considered to be one of the greatest rarities in the whole South African coinage series. The historical detail of the striking of 837 gold staatsponden bearing the effigy of President Thomas Francois Burgers by the Heaton Mint in Birmingham was recorded in meticulous detail by Professor E.H.D. Arndt in 1939. A publication of H.J. Ellis stated that there were two distinctly different die varieties of the Burgers staatspond. *A daguerreotype of President Burgers and several copies of the South African Republic coat-of-arms were sent to England. Unfortunately the glass of the photo had been broken in transit. Mrs. Burgers, who was in England visiting relatives, could supply two more photographs of the President. L.C. Wyon, engraver of the Royal Mint, undertook the preparation of the dies as a private commission. As the Royal Mint had to apply for permission from the Treasury before they could undertake the coining, thus causing delay, the Heaton Mint was approached. *The coins were delivered in two consignments, the first containing 695 pieces, the second one 142. * Thomas François 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 caused violent controversy by presenting 50 pieces of this coin 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 claimed 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. The remaining coins on hand were offered to the public at two Pounds each. *The coin we can offer in this auction was graded by PCGS as MS 62 and is therefor one of the finest pieces known today.Repunched 8 in date. PCGS MS62 UNC