Short History of early ZAR Gold coins of South Africa.

The first Gold coin minted in South Africa was the Burgers Ponde. There were two coins minted in 1874, the Fine Beard and the Coarse Beard (another indication of the Coarse beard is the double 8).

Half Pond.

In 1892 the first half pond was minted. 20 were Proof and the remaining were normal coins. Half Ponds were minted through to 1897.

Kruger Ponds.

Also in 1892 Ponds were minted again. In 1892 there were two versions, the Double shaft and the Single shaft. The main difference between the Single Shaft and the Double Shaft is the shafts on the wagon. Another indication of the Double shaft is the signature of Otto Schultz, O. S. on the shoulder of President Kruger. It is estimated that only 10 Double Shaft Pond were Proofs.

Kruger Ponds were minted in this form till 1898.

1898/9 The Single "nine"

The was a 9 stamped onto the shoulder of President Kruger on the obverse side of the 1898 Kruger Pond.

1898/99

The Double "nine" was a 99 stamped on to the shoulder of President Kruger on the obverse side of the 1898 Kruger Pond. There were 130 double nines stamped into the 1898 Kruger Pond.

1900 Kruger Pond

The 1900 Kruger Pond was again produced in large quantities. In fact it was the largest mintage of any gold coin in the whole Kruger series.

In 1900 there was only rim versions of the half pond blank minted. It is not known how many half blank ponds were produced but it could have been part of the Kruger millions.also Known as Kaalpond

In 1900 there were two blank versions minted, the rim and the rim less. It is not known how many were produced but it could have been part of the Kruger millions.

The Veld pond was made out of 24 Carat gold. The Veld Pond was stamped in the Veld using equipment from Transvaal Gold Mining Estates. The TGM was still operating as a Gold Mine in the 1990.

The most sought after Kruger Ponds are the 1892 Single shaft and the 1893 Half pond.