1952 South African Eleven Coin George VI Proof Set

11-coin George VI proof set from the South African Mint featuring a gold Pond and Half Pond in the original presentation box.

Coins In 1952 South Africa Proof Set

These sought-after 1952 South African proof sets contain eleven SA Mint coins, encased inside a velvet-lined presentation case.

• 1952 South Africa Gold Proof Pond
• 1952 South Africa Gold Proof Half Pond
• 1952 South Africa Silver Proof Cape Town Anniversary Five Shillings
• 1952 South Africa Silver Proof Halfcrown (2½ Shillings)
• 1952 South Africa Silver Proof Two Shillings (Florin)
• 1952 South Africa Silver Proof Shilling
• 1952 South Africa Silver Proof 

The gold coins in this set are struck in 22-carat (916.7) gold, while the silver pieces are 50% fine.

Each piece includes the obverse legend 'GEORGIVS SEXTVS REX'.

These South African sets come from a mintage of just 12,000 and are now difficult to find complete and in good condition.

Gold Coins Of King George VI

Very few gold coins were issued with a portrait of King George VI.

Britain's Royal Mint celebrated George's 1937 coronation with a special, highly limited issue of 22-carat gold Sovereign sets. These proof coins were not minted for circulation. The Sovereign had fallen out of daily use in Britain with the outbreak of the First World War with new issues not available to collectors and investors until the 1950s.

This means that the only official UK gold coins with the image of King George VI are the Half Sovereigns, Sovereigns, Double Sovereigns and Quintuple Sovereigns struck in 1937.

These 1952 South African sets represent a rare opportunity to add a gold George VI portrait to your collection. The coins in these sets also represent some of the final issues of this British monarch who died in February 1952, succeeded by his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II.

History Of The South African Mint

The story of the South African Mint begins with the 1886 Witwatersrand Gold Rush. To take advantage of the influx of precious metal into the South African Republic, the country's President Paul Kruger moved to establish a national mint in Pretoria as the impoverished state became wealthy. The Pretoria facility was opened in 1892 with the Republic's first full coinage series issued the same year, the denominations based on the pre-decimal British Pound.

Following the Second Boer War, the Republic was annexed into the British Empire, becoming the Transvaal Colony, part of the Union of South Africa. A branch of Britain's Royal Mint was opened in Pretoria 1923 and began striking South African coins modelled on contemporary British money. This included gold Sovereigns which were minted in Pretoria until 1932, long after production ceased in London.

In 1941 the Pretoria facility became the South African Mint, breaking ties with the Royal Mint. British-style currency continued to be struck in Pretoria until South Africa became a Republic in 1961. In the same year the new Republic moved to decimalise its currency, replacing the Pound with the Rand. The SA Mint was privatised in 1980 and today strikes all circulation and commemorative coins of the South African Rand from their facilities in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa.

Gold Ponds And Krugerrands

The South African Republic's first full currency, issued in 1892, included gold Pound and Half Pound coins. These are known as Ponds and Half Ponds for the Afrikaans rendering of the denomination. These gold coins were struck in 22-carat gold to the same specifications as British Sovereigns and Half Sovereigns.

The first gold Ponds featured a portrait of Boer statesman Paul Kruger, State President of the South African Republic. This effigy is the work of Otto Schultz and would be utilised on a later SA Mint coin: the influential Krugerrand, introduced in 1967.

The reverse of the gold Pond and Half Pond in this 1952 coin set show another familiar image: the 'pronking' Springbok: the national animal of South Africa. This design - created by sculptor and medallist Coert Steynberg - was originally used on South African 5 Shilling coins dated 1948-1950. It was reused on commemorative Ponds like the ones in these sets and later on the reverse of the Krugerrand with Steynberg's 'CLS' initials to the bottom right.

Pre-Owned Historic Coin Sets

The photographs on this page are stock images and represent the type and quality of King George VI SA Mint set you will receive.

Our 1952 coin sets are offered in pre-owned condition. This means that natural signs of ageing will be apparent, including toning or tarnishing, clouding and box-wear. These effects occur naturally, even when coins are kept in good condition over the decades.

You will receive your set in the original South African Mint presentation box with 'SAM' printed on the silk lining of the lid. The coins are presented on a fitted velvet cushion without individual capsules. The blue velvet case is held closed with two metal clasps to the exterior.