Quick Coinage Facts
Years Minted: 1892-1897
Composition: 92.50% Silver, 7.50% Copper
Diameter: 32 mm
Weight: 14.1380 grams (0.4205 oz. actual silver weight)
Total Series Mintage: 902,000
Obverse Design: Bust
Reverse Design: Coat of Arms
Unique Features:
Introduction
The obverse design features the bust of Paul Kruger facing left. On the outer periphery are the words “ZUID AFRIKAANS REPUBLIEK” .
The reverse, on the outer periphery are the word “2 ½ SHILLINGS” and the year of issue. The main design features the coat of arms with an eagle sitting above facing right and three government flags flanking either side. The center of the arms consists of four designs; Lion, Wagon, An Armed Man, and an Anchor. Beneath these designs is a banner with the motto “EENDRAGT MAAKT MAGT” or “ Strength Though Unity”.
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Paul Kruger
During the later years of the 19th Century, the British Empire ruled over South Africa (known as the Cape Colony during this time period) with the exception of a northern province known as Transvaal Boer. One of the greatest leaders of that time period for the Boer's was Paul Kruger.
Elected president of Transvaal in 1882 at the age of 57, Kruger would be re-elected to serve a total of 4 terms (with his last re-election in 1898) until his ouster by the British in 1900.
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The Discovery of gold: The discovery of gold in the Transvaal changed the political climate as gold-seekers from around the globe flocked to Africa with many being British citizens from the Cape Colony. With the Boer population based primarily on agriculture and the influx of “foreigners” interests stictly to mining gold, tensions began mounting.
Jameson raid: Kruger's leadership was put to the test at the end of 1895, when the Jameson Raid took place. The Jameson Raid, led by Doctor Starr Jameson, was intended to trigger an uprising by the primarily British expatriate gold mining workers in Transvaal but failed to do so. Jameson later became premier of the Cape Colony which started the breakdown of good relations between the British and the Transvall Boers. This breakdown of relations ultimately led to the second Anglo Boer War.
The Second Anglo-Boer war: The second Anglo-Boer War, also known as the South African war, started on October 11,
1899. Paul Kruger fled as Lord Roberts troops advanced. He remained underground for weeks and eventually took refuge with his European allies in Holland where he stayed for remainder of the war. Kruger eventually moved to Clarens in Switzerland where he stayed for the last six months of his life and died on July 14, 1904. His body was transported to South Africa and was buried on December 16, 1904 in the Church Street cemetery of Pretoria.
Modern Legacy: Kruger's legacy is still alive and well today in the country of South Africa and is honored in numismatics by the South African Krugerrand gold coin, which features his portrait on the obverse.