South African Gold Krugerrand Coin Sets
South African Krugerrand Coin Sets are packaged in original mint issued boxes and depending on the set, offer the different sizes of the Krugerrand. Introduced in 1967, the South Africa Gold Krugerrand became the vehicle for private gold ownership. In the 1970's, its popularity boomed and it was the number one choice of gold investment among collectors and investors. Economic sanctions, due to the apartheid, made the importing of the South Africa Gold Krugerrand illegal but this ended in 1991, when South Africa abandoned the apartheid. The South Africa Gold Krugerrand is 22 karats, 90% pure gold, 10% copper and contains one ounce of pure gold.
Design History of South African Krugerrand
The South African Krugerrand's design was constructed by two artists, instead of one. The reverse presents the national animal of the South African Republic: the Springbok antelope. This design was done by Coert Steynberg, featuring the antelope effortlessly galloping through a field. The coin's purity, weight, and year of issue are also engraved on the reverse. The South African Krugerrands were minted with 160 serrations around the edge of the bullion coin and over 200 serrations on the proof coin, resulting in a truly unique coin.
The obverse was designed by Otto Schultz and features the side profile portrait of Paul Kruger. Kruger remains one of the most divisive and well-known political figures from the 19th century. Seated as the 3rd president of the South African Republic, Kruger served for almost 10 years as Commander in Chief. His name was linked to the rand, which is the South African currency, and together make the Krugerrand.
Variations of the South African Krugerrand
The South African Krugerrand began as just a 1 troy oz gold coin but due to extreme demand, smaller increments were introduced in 1980. Four versions: 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz are all still minted today. There were also special edition proof coins minted. The main difference between the proof coins and the bullion is the amount of serrations around the edges.