1 oz South African Gold Krugerrand Coin (Circ, Dates Vary)

The World’s First Gold Bullion Coin

South Africa’s 1 oz. Gold Krugerrand stands among the world’s most popular gold bullion coins. This South African 1 oz. gold coin is an international symbol of wealth and prestige, and is the original gold bullion coin. First introduced in 1967, the Kruggerand was designed specifically for the investor, with a value that can be easily determined from the internationally quoted gold price.

History

South Africa was home to some of the largest gold reserves found in the world, so it makes perfect sense that they were the first nation to issue a commemorative gold coin. The Gold Krugerrand was released in 1967 to help market South African Gold. It was uncontested for more than 12 years, and still has worldwide popularity due to its simple, classic design.

Design

The 1 oz. Gold Krugerrand coin depicts two key South African figures: Paul Kruger and the springbok antelope. The obverse, designed by Otto Schultz, bears the face of South Africa’s first president, Paul Kruger, and the coin’s name Krugerrand, which is a combination of this early hero’s name and that of their unit of currency, the rand. The reverse depicts a national symbol of South Africa, the springbok gazelle. The image was designed by Coert Steynberg and was previously used on the reverse of the earlier South African 5 shilling coins.