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1 Penny Orange Free State
| Issuer | Orange Free State |
|---|---|
| Year | 1874 |
| Type | Coin pattern |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents the denomination EEN PENNY in two lines of bold serifed capital lettering at centre, with the date 1874 below, all enclosed within an open wreath of olive branches tied at the base with a ribbon bow. The word MUNTSPROEVE (meaning 'pattern' or 'coin trial' in Dutch) is inscribed in small capitals along the lower exergue, identifying this piece as a pattern striking. The entire design is framed by a fine dentilated border, and the reverse field shows the characteristic reflective surfaces of a proof-quality strike. |
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| Mintage | 1874 - Proof; estimated mintage - 100 |
| Additional information |
The Orange Free State issued coinage only twice in its history — a pattern coinage in 1874 and a small circulation issue in 1888 — making any piece from either series genuinely scarce. This 1874 penny is catalogued as a pattern (Hern O1), struck in London most likely by Ralph Heaton & Sons of Birmingham, as the Boer republic had no domestic minting capacity. Whether it was ever intended for full circulation or existed purely as a presentation piece remains debated among South African numismatists.