Hello everyone,
I have this 1995 commemorative 7-coin set issued by the SA Mint. It was issued to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's visit to South Africa in 1995.
4 of the coins in the set are standard Union of South Africa coins with Queen Elizabeth’s portrait on (so from 1953 to 1960). Most likely the Mint just ordered these coins from a local dealer, as these are quite common here in South Africa.
2 of the coins are Crown-sized commemorative coins with identical designs, one in Cupro-nickel and one in silver. Please see the images below.
Lastly, there is a gold sovereign dated 1995, with the younger portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse (the same as on the 1953 to 1960 South African coins), and the iconic design of St George slaying the dragon on the reverse. However, the reverse design looks slightly smaller on the coin than any other sovereigns I have seen before, and there is a SA mintmark to the right of the date.
One of the most recently published South African coin price guides (the MTB South African graded coins numismatic pocket guide, 2018) gives this description of the sovereign:
“Proof sovereign in 22crt gold, with a weight 7.988 grams. In 1995, for the Royal visit of Queen Elizabeth II, the SA Mint produced a set of unc coins: ½d, 1d, 2.5s, crown (see QEII series for circulation prices) and a unique gold sovereign, as well as two special commemorative crowns (see NE22 & NE24 above)”
This same catalogue puts the mintage figure at only 30 for the set.
My question is, is this set (and in particular the sovereign) a recognised rarity overseas? Even here in South Africa, it is a relatively unknown set. I have not been able to find a single case where one of these sets or even the individual sovereign has ever sold on an overseas auction.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.