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1 Pond Burgers Pond, Transvaal Pattern
| Issuer | South African Republic (South Africa (pre-Union)) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1874 |
| Type | Coin pattern |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | THOMAS FRANÇOIS BURGERS 1874 |
| Reverse description | The arms of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek displayed on a flagged shield, surmounted by an eagle with outstretched wings. A decorative banner or scroll appears below the shield, and the full circular legend 'ZUID AFRIKAANSCHE REPUBLIEK' surrounds the central device. The composition is heraldic in character, executed in the engraving tradition of mid-19th century European coinage. |
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| Additional information |
The Burgers Pond patterns of 1874 represent a politically explosive episode in South African numismatic history. President Thomas François Burgers commissioned the issue to establish the Transvaal Republic's monetary credibility, contracting the work to Messrs. Heaton's Mint in Birmingham. The "fine beard" and "coarse beard" varieties that emerged from this striking caused an immediate scandal — conservative Boer citizens, many deeply religious, objected to having any presidential portrait on coinage at all, let alone one they considered vain.
Gold-plated bronze examples like this were struck as patterns or presentation pieces. The actual gold circulation issue was largely rejected and few entered commerce.