1898 Single 9 Kruger Pond
1898 Single 9 Kruger Pond
The 1898 Single Nine was actually stamped on the 2nd of November 1899 using a large number 9 punch measuring 2.3 mm. The punch proved too large and damaged the bust of President Kruger, prompting the mint to use a smaller punch and apply it twice—creating the "Double Nine."
This coin was presented to the United States Consul General as a diplomatic gesture, affirming that the Transvaal government was still in control of the republic. The 1899 die was later seized by British troops in Lourenço Marques, now Maputo, Mozambique.
It is believed that Consul General Macrum scratched an "M" into the bust after receiving the coin. The Single Nine then vanished for nearly 50 years, only to reappear in the renowned coin collection of King Farouk, which included over 8,500 coins and 18 other South African pieces.
Coin Specifications
| Coin Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Hern's Number | ? |
| Krause-Mishler Number | KM#10.2 |
| Designer | Otto Schultz |
| Diameter | 22 mm |
| Thickness | 1.56 mm |
| Mintage | 1 |
| Weight | 7.988 gm |
| Gold Content | 7.322 gm |
| Copper Content | 0.665 gm |
| Best Known Grade | MS63PL |
Additional Information
The coin eventually returned to South Africa when Dr. Froelich purchased it for 655 Egyptian Pounds. Since then, it has changed hands multiple times and was reportedly sold in 2010 for around R20 million.
The Single Nine was graded by NGC as MS63PL (Mint State 63, Proof-Like). One theory suggests that so many 1898 Kruger Ponds exist today because additional coins were struck not only in 1898 but also in 1899—and possibly even in 1900.