Top 10 most valuable South African coins (with images and infographic)
A handful of small metal discs sitting in a drawer somewhere could be among the most valuable South African coins that are worth more than most houses. Rare South African coins routinely sell for hundreds of thousands, and in one extraordinary case, over R40 million, because they represent war, independence, forged dies, and a handful of survivors from another century. Before you throw out an old coin tin, it's worth knowing exactly which coins are truly rare.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Top 10 most valuable South African coins
- 10. Kruger Half Ponds (1893 - 1894) - R10,000 to R19,000
- 9. 1898 ZAR Half-Pond - R45,000 to R150,000
- 8. Burgers Pond, Fine Beard (1874) - R200,000 to R500,000
- 7. VeldPond (1902) - R366 000
- 6. 1967 Krugerrand Pattern in Silver - about R585,000
- 5. 1887 OFS Pattern Kroon - about R1.24 million
- 4. Burgers Pond Fine Beard (1874) - R106 000 to R235 000
- 3. Sammy Marks Tickey (1898) - about R1.5 million
- 2. Kruger Double 9 Pond (1899) - R2 million to R10 million
- 1. Single 9 Pond (1898) - R40 million+
- Top 20 most valuable South African coins: 11 to 20
- South Africa old coins price list: what's actually common
- The truth about Mandela R5 coins
- Most wanted old South African coins for cash near Pretoria
- What is the most valuable coin in South Africa?
- What years of coins are worth money?
- Which South African R5 coins are valuable?
- Which South African coins are pure silver?
- How do you know if your coin is genuine and valuable?
Key takeaways
- The most valuable South African coin, the 1898 Single 9 Pond, sold for a record R40.1 million ($2.16 million) at Heritage Auctions in January 2025.
- Genuine rarities almost all date from the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) era (1874 -1902) or have mintages under a few thousand; condition and certification (NGC/PCGS) heavily influence final price.
- Circulated Mandela R5 commemorative coins (1994, 2008, 2018) are NOT rare. They typically have a face value of about R30.
- Before selling, never clean a coin; get it appraised by a SAACA-accredited dealer.
- Be extremely wary of unsolicited buyers on social media offering huge sums for common coins.
Top 10 most valuable South African coins
Ranking | Coin | Estimated value | Why it's valuable |
1 | Single 9 Pond (1898) | R40 million+ | Record R40.1m ($2.16m) sale, Heritage Auctions, in January 2025 |
2 | Kruger Double 9 Pond (1899) | R2 million - R10 million | A certified example sold for ~R2.02m in Jan 2026. Top-grade pieces reach far more |
3 | Sammy Marks Tickey (1898) | ~R1.5 million | 22-carat gold pattern. Only 215 struck, 32 known graded |
4 | Burgers Pond, Coarse Beard (1874) | R1 million - R1.5 million | 142 struck. Die error left a double-struck “8” |
5 | 1887 OFS Pattern Kroon | ~R1.24 million | Orange Free State pattern coin, Gatsby Collection sale |
6 | 1967 Krugerrand Pattern (Silver) | ~R585,000 | Rare silver pattern strike of the Krugerrand |
7 | VeldPond (1902) | R300,000 - R900,000 | Hand-struck Boer War “siege coinage”; about 986 made |
8 | Burgers Pond, Fine Beard (1874) | R200,000 - R500,000 | 695 struck; South Africa's first gold coin |
9 | 1898 ZAR Half-Pond | R45,000 - R150,000 | 5,886 struck - rarer than the full Pond of the same year |
10 | Kruger Half Ponds (1893–1894) | R10,000 - R19,000 | Most valuable of the Kruger Half Pond series |
Ancient currencies have huge value because of their metal content, collectability, condition, and rarity. Although SA coin values have increased lately, especially for the rarest pieces, the monetary worth of all the most valuable South African coins will remain unchanged. Check out the top 10 most valuable South African coins below.
10. Kruger Half Ponds (1893 - 1894) - R10,000 to R19,000
Source: Twitter
Collectors and investors are consistently hunting for South Africa's most valuable coins even though their prices fluctuate yearly due to inflation and other market and economic dynamics.
The Kruger Half Pond money bearing the years 1893 and 1894 is the most valuable of the Kruger series. Their rarity has caused a steady rise in value.
The most valuable dates in the broader Kruger Half Pond series, the 1893 and 1894 issues combine solid gold content with genuine collector demand. Uncertified examples typically sell in the R10,000 range, while certified, high-grade pieces can approach R19,000 or more.
9. 1898 ZAR Half-Pond - R45,000 to R150,000
Often overlooked next to its full-Pond counterpart, the 1898 ZAR Half-Pond is among the most valuable South African coins in 2026. It is actually the rarer of the two despite a higher mintage of 5,886, since far fewer have survived in collectable condition. Demand for this denomination has grown steadily among collectors filling out complete ZAR-era sets.
8. Burgers Pond, Fine Beard (1874) - R200,000 to R500,000
The corrected, fine-beard version of the Burgers Pond followed the coarse-beard error and represents South Africa's first true gold coin, with 695 pieces struck using gold from Pilgrim's Rest and dies made in London. Recent sales range from about R200,000 to R500,000, depending heavily on grade.
7. VeldPond (1902) - R366 000
The old South African coins price list is incomplete without the 1902 VeldPond. Only 986 pieces came out in a desperate attempt to facilitate Boers in their trading engagements.
A raging war during the VeldPonds' time made it almost impossible for Boers to acquire items from African tribes. The currency strengthened their trade and counteracted and took down the Brits.
Every one of these valuable metals is different, considering they are hand-pressed. With roughly 986 pieces produced and each one slightly different due to the crude hand-pressing process, prices vary widely by condition, from around R300,000 for a worn example up to R900,000 for one in excellent condition.
6. 1967 Krugerrand Pattern in Silver - about R585,000
Long before the gold Krugerrand became South Africa's best-known bullion coin, the Mint tested pattern strikes, including this rare silver version from 1967. Because so few pattern pieces exist outside the Mint's own archives, surviving examples command prices far beyond a standard Krugerrand.
5. 1887 OFS Pattern Kroon - about R1.24 million
A pattern coin, a trial strike never issued for general circulation, from the Orange Free State, the 1887 Kroon has become a favourite among serious ZAR-era collectors precisely because it never made it into everyday use. A recent sale of a graded example fetched around R1.24 million.
4. Burgers Pond Fine Beard (1874) - R106 000 to R235 000
The Burgers Pond Fine Beard (1874) is on the list of wanted coins in South Africa. It came following the president's decision to make currency for his people. He sent his portrait, coat of arms, and gold to London for them to be made and brought home.
Gold from Pilgrim's Rest was enough to complete the project. 695 Fine Beard Burgers Ponds were made in the first batch. The value of these precious coins has increased over time.
For instance, the NGC MS65-certified currency fetched $94,000 from a US-based auction market in 2014. Recent prices range between R106 000 and R235 000 based on quality.
3. Sammy Marks Tickey (1898) - about R1.5 million
President Kruger let mining magnate Sammy Marks use the national mint for a single day as thanks for his financial support of the government.
Marks struck 215 gold versions of the threepence (“tickey”), normally a silver coin, to hand out to friends, family, and officials. Only 32 of the original 215 are known to have been professionally graded, and a recent example sold for around R1.5 million.
2. Kruger Double 9 Pond (1899) - R2 million to R10 million
After the Single 9's oversized punch failed, the mint switched to a smaller “99” stamp, applying it to roughly 130 more 1898 Ponds. A certified example from the same well-documented collection as the Single 9 sold for approximately R2.02 million in a January 2026 South African auction, while top-graded, internationally certified pieces can fetch considerably more.
1. Single 9 Pond (1898) - R40 million+
The 1898 Single 9 Pond tops the list of rarest and most valuable coins in South Africa. It is the only old coin worth about USD$126,450 (over R23 million). The money has a rich history. It was made during the Anglo-Boer War when SA needed national legitimacy.
Since the country was experiencing a shortage of dies for home coinage, they had no option but to contract a German die producer. The experts made the first South African coin with a single letter nine in a small area. The "9" protruded onto the lower part of President Kruger's bust.
No replicas were made because the design was too intrusive to the president's image. The 1898 Single 9 Pond remained the only one of its kind in history. Its last sale value is reported to be R40 million+.
Top 20 most valuable South African coins: 11 to 20
Beyond the headline-grabbing top 10, a further tier of coins remains genuinely sought after by serious collectors, even if the prices are more modest:
Ranking | Coin | Estimated value |
11 | 1931 Tickey (3d, George V) | R12,000 – R45,000 |
12 | 1894 ZAR 5 Shilling, Double-Shaft Wagon variety | R30,000 – R80,000 |
13 | 1923 Half-Crown (King George V, first Union issue) | R8,000 – R18,000 |
14 | 1923 Penny, Proof (Union, low mintage) | R6,000 – R15,000 |
15 | 1947 5 Shilling (King George VI, low-mintage year) | R3,500 – R12,000 |
16 | Kruger Pond (Sovereign, average condition) | R8,000 – R12,000 |
17 | 1965 50 Cent, Proof (Afrikaans legend) | R3,000 – R8,000 |
18 | Kruger Half-Pond (average condition, gold-price linked) | R4,500 – R6,500 |
19 | 1965 Silver Rand (uncirculated) | R600 – R800 |
20 | Krugerrand (1 oz, recent, bullion grade) | ~R39,000 (tracks gold spot) |
South Africa old coins price list: what's actually common
Not every old coin is a hidden fortune. Krugerrands track the live gold price plus a small dealer premium of around R39,000 for a 1oz coin at current gold prices, while everyday pre-decimal and early-decimal coins in worn condition are usually worth only a small premium over face value.
If a coin isn't on the rare-coin lists above, it's most likely a common issue. While it is still worth checking, it may not be worth pinning your retirement on.
The truth about Mandela R5 coins
Viral messages claiming that 1994, 2008, or 2018 Mandela R5 coins are worth R100,000 or more have circulated on WhatsApp and Facebook for years. In reality, they're false.
All three coins were minted in the millions specifically as commemorative circulation pieces, which makes them common, not rare. South Africa's Reserve Bank has repeatedly confirmed these coins are worth their face value in everyday transactions.
Coin | Condition | Realistic value |
Mandela Inauguration R5 (1994) | Circulated | R5 - R20 |
Mandela Inauguration R5 (1994) | Sealed mint proof, original packaging | R150 - R400 |
Mandela 90th Birthday R5 (2008) | Circulated (mintage: ~5 million) | R5 - R30 |
Mandela Centenary R5 (2018) | Circulated (mintage: ~9.5 million) | R5 - R15 |
The only Mandela R5S that fetch more than pocket change are sealed proof coins still in their original mint packaging, which can sell for R150 - R400 to specialist collectors. This amount is nowhere near the six-figure sums claimed in viral posts.
Most wanted old South African coins for cash near Pretoria
If you're in or near Pretoria and think you might have a genuinely rare coin, a few legitimate options exist:
- SAACA-accredited dealers: Members of the South African Association of Numismatic Dealers offer professional appraisals and fair market offers. Several operate in and around Gauteng.
- The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) head office in Pretoria: SARB doesn't buy back ordinary circulation coins, but its gold coin exchange counter deals in official gold coins such as Krugerrands, Protea, and Natura series pieces. Bring your ID, proof of residence, and a recent bank statement for this transaction.
- Reputable auction houses: For anything provisionally valued over roughly R100,000, consigning to an established auction house typically achieves a better price than a private dealer sale, though it takes longer.
Be cautious of anyone advertising on social media or classifieds sites offering to pay unusually high, round-number amounts for common coins like Mandela R5s. This is one of the most common coin scams in South Africa. Legitimate buyers won't need to pressure you into a same-day cash sale.
What is the most valuable coin in South Africa?
The 1898 Single 9 Pond, which sold for a record R40.1 million ($2.16 million) at auction in January 2025. Only one example is known to exist.
What years of coins are worth money?
Genuinely rare coins mostly date from the ZAR era: 1874 (Burgers Ponds), 1893 -1894 (Kruger Half Ponds), 1898 -1899 (Single/Double 9 Ponds, Sammy Marks Tickey), and 1902 (VeldPond). Some 20th-century low-mintage or pattern coins (1923, 1931, 1965, 1967) are also valuable in top condition.
Which South African R5 coins are valuable?
None of the standard circulation Mandela R5 commemoratives are genuinely rare. Only sealed mint-proof versions in original packaging command a modest premium (R150–R400). Claims of R40,000+ values for circulated coins are false.
Which South African coins are pure silver?
South Africa's pre-1965 coinage used 80% or 92.5% silver alloys rather than pure silver. The 1967 Krugerrand Pattern in Silver is a notable rare exception, struck as a trial piece rather than for circulation.
How do you know if your coin is genuine and valuable?
Check the date, mintmark, and any unusual die varieties. You should assess condition without cleaning the coin and get a preliminary opinion from a SAACA-accredited dealer. For anything provisionally valued over R30,000, professional NGC or PCGS certification is worth the fee.
The most valuable South African coins tell a story that goes well beyond their metal content. If you come across an old coin, resist the urge to clean it, get it looked at by a reputable, accredited dealer, and treat any claim about a common Mandela R5 with healthy scepticism.
DISCLAIMER: This article is not sponsored by any third party. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
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Maryn Blignaut (Editor in Chief) Maryn Blignaut is the Editor-in-Chief at Briefly News, with nine years of experience in digital journalism. She holds a BA in Communication Science from the University of South Africa (2016) and specialises in digital storytelling and feature writing. She has completed advanced professional training in media and innovation, including the AFP Digital Investigation Techniques course, multiple Google News Initiative programmes, Thomson Reuters AI Adoption Training, and the WAN-IFRA Women in News leadership programme. For enquiries, contact maryn.blignaut@briefly.co.za
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