The 1902 Veld Pond is the legendary siege issue of the Boer War, struck with hand-cut dies in a makeshift field mint at Pilgrim’s Rest as the ZAR government fled the British. Crude, lettered “ZAR 1902 / EEN POND,” and struck in near-pure gold, it closes the Kruger series. This entry covers the field-mint story and specs.
Key facts
- Struck in 1902 at Pilgrim’s Rest by the “Staatsmunt te Velde” (State Mint in the Field) during the Second Boer War; dies were hand-engraved by P. Kloppers with chisels, hardened and used with an improvised fly press.
- Design: obverse “Z.A.R. 1902” monogram/date; reverse “EEN POND” inscription; reeded edge filed by hand into a collar.
- Specs: gold, fineness .999 (refined by W. Coney from Lydenburg alluvial gold to practically 100% purity — slightly higher intrinsic gold than a British sovereign); mintage 986 (KM# 11; NGC lists KM 11, 1902, mintage 986).
- Classified as a Veld/Boer War siege issue; forgeries are a known problem on this date — buy slabbed or from specialists (authentication practice, not an authentication claim).
- Production was so late the war ended as the minting finished — the last coin of the famed ZAR gold series.