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Transvaal Republic
1 Pound
川斯瓦共和國
1鎊
Item number: A1210
Year: AD 1893
Material: Gold
Size: 20.5 x 20.5 mm
Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024
This is a 1-pound gold coin minted in AD 1893 by the Transvaal Republic, established by Afrikaners in the interior of South Africa. The coin is encircled by a milled edge, with the obverse featuring the left-facing portrait of Paul Kruger, the then-president who led the republic to successfully resist annexation by the British Empire during the First Boer War (AD 1880–AD 1881). Kruger, known for his distinctive large beard, is depicted at the age of 68. Surrounding his portrait is an inscription in Dutch spelling, “ZUID AFRIKAANSCHE REPUBLIEK,” representing the official name of the republic, the “South African Republic.”
The reverse of the coin features the coat of arms of the Transvaal Republic. At the centre of the circular emblem, there is a reclining lion, an Afrikaner man holding a rifle, and a covered wagon—an important tool of Afrikaner migration. In the middle of the emblem is a shield adorned with an anchor. Above the emblem, a spread-winged eagle perches, while the national flag of the Transvaal Republic is positioned on either side. Below, a scroll bears the national motto “EENDRAGT MAAKT MAGT,” meaning “Unity is Strength.” Surrounding the coat of arms are the denomination and the year of issue, “1 POND ★ 1893 ★.”
The Afrikaners, also known as Boers, originated from Dutch and French Protestant Huguenot immigrants who settled in the region beginning in the 17th century, making them the earliest European settlers in South Africa. In the 19th century, as the British Empire increasingly asserted control over the Cape Colony, many Afrikaners embarked on a mass migration inland, an event known as the “Great Trek.” In AD 1852, the Afrikaners established independent states, with the Transvaal Republic being one of the most prominent. However, after the discovery of rich gold and diamond deposits within the republic, the British Empire launched two Boer Wars (AD 1880–1881 / 1899–1902). The second war led to the annexation of the Transvaal Republic by the British in AD 1902.
Following the end of the World War II, a politically ascendant Afrikaner-centric party, emphasizing white supremacy assumed power, and promptly implemented stringent racial segregation policies domestically. This regime persisted until AD 1994 when the African National Congress, led by Nelson Mandela, emerged victorious in the African National Congress, marking the definitive end of the apartheid era.