Lot 4572

Pond 1892, Double shaft wagon tongue (KM10.1, Hern Z44, Fr.2) - Obv: Bust Paul Kruger left / Rev: Circular shield of arms between flags, eagle above. The first issue of these ‘new’ coins was produced before the Pretoria Mint was completed. Therefore designer Otto Schultz of the Imperial German Mint in Berlin was contracted to engrave the dies and the first coins were struck in Berlin. Soon after arrival in South Africa two glaring mistakes resulted in the withdrawal of these coins. The traditional South African ox wagon had a single hitching shaft and very large rear wheels unlike the double-shaft wagon in Schultz’ design. Also the engraver’s initials OS on Kruger’s shoulder form the word ‘OX’ in Dutch and Afrikaans. New dies had to be prepared hastily and the second issue, the ‘single shaft’ appeared that same year. Most double shafts were recalled and melted down to be reissued as single shafts. Only a very few proof coins, especially from the pond, were produced in 1892. Krause estimates a proof mintage of 12-15 pieces, Hern estimates a proof mintage of only 10. This piece, although impaired (hairlines or even minor circulation), is without a doubt a proof and excessively rare.