One of the rarest and most significant coins in South African history, the 1898 Single 9 Pond, is set to reappear on the market for the first time in over a decade.

Heritage Auctions in Texas will host the highly anticipated auction of this one-of-a-kind coin on January 13.

Last sold in 2010, the Single 9 Pond is considered the most valuable South African coin ever sold.

Bassani’s Auction House, South Africa’s leading specialist auctioneers, expressed excitement over the coin’s recurrence.

“We are thrilled to see such a rare piece of our country’s numismatic heritage making an appearance on the global market,” said a spokesperson for Bassani’s.

“The 1898 Single 9 Pond represents an extraordinary moment in history, and its reappearance provides a unique opportunity to highlight the enduring value and cultural significance of South African coins.”

The Single 9 was the first one-pound gold coin produced during the Anglo-Boer War between South Africa and the British Empire in 1899.

At that time, the government of the South African Republic sought legitimacy in the eyes of the international community.

One of the best ways to do this was to manufacture their own coins and currency.

Since they did not have a facility to produce dies for coinage in South Africa, coins dies were made by the German Mint in Berlin in previous years, but for the year 1899, no dies were manufactured.

Still wanting to press forward on making their own coins, the government’s solution was to use dies from 1898 and punch a 9 on the obverse of the 1898-dated coins.

Once the first coin was made, they realized that the 9 was too large — it intruded on the bust of President Kruger.

Only this first single coin was made with this punch, and all subsequent coins struck on this occasion were stamped with a pair of smaller nines.

This second striking of coins is called the double 99 overstamp, and also comprises a rare and valuable South African coin; the single 9 stamp is unique.

The first coin, the Single 9, was immediately given to the United States Consul General, C.E. Macrum, as a means of confirming the South African Republic as an independent country with its own currency.

NGC’s attribution for this coin includes the notation “‘M’ Monogram.”

Although the coin was marked post-striking by its first owner, the monogram was not factored into the grade assigned.

“This is standard practice when grading coins with historically important post-minting marks,” explained Krah.

“Marks such as these actually help pedigree a coin. We believe that the Macrum mark on the base of the bust on the single 9 pond clearly falls into this historically significant category.”

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“The auction of the legendary 1898 Single 9 Pond – often called the ‘King of South African Coins’ – represents a pivotal moment in South African history,” said the spokesperson for Bassani’s.

“This unique and historically significant gold coin is a true rarity in the South African and even global numismatic world, having sold for over R20 million at its last sale.”

“This priceless piece of South Africa’s heritage may well set a new record once again, and we hope to see it return home.”

Info: Bassani’s Auction House