Obverse. Photo © Heritage Auctions
  • 1 Penny 1888, X# Pn5, Orange Free State
  • 1 Penny 1888, X# Pn5, Orange Free State
Description

The Orange Free State was an independent Boer sovereign republic in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, which ceased to exist after it was defeated and surrendered to the British Empire at the end of the Second Boer War in 1902. Following a period of direct rule by the British, it attained self-government in 1907 and joined the Union of South Africa in 1910 as the Orange Free State Province, along with the Cape Province, Natal, and the Transvaal. In 1961, the Union of South Africa became the Republic of South Africa.

The republic's name derives partly from the Orange River, which in turn was named in honour of the Dutch ruling family, the House of Orange, by the Dutch explorer Robert Jacob Gordon.

Engraver: Wolfgang Lauer

Obverse

Orange Free State's coat of arms with the sate's name above and motto (Patience and Courage) on banner and date below.

The coat of arms depicts a tree of liberty and three bugle horns, which are the badge of the House of Orange.

ORANJE VRYJSTAAT
GEDULD EN MOED
1888

Reverse

Oak branch left and laurel branch right encircling denomination.

1
PENNY
v

Edge

1 Penny

Pattern
X# Pn5 Hern# O14
Characteristics
Type Trial strike
Material Bronze
Weight 10.21 g
Diameter 30.48 mm
Thickness 2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
Messrs. Otto Nolte and Co., Berlin

Related coins

Bronze, 9.4 g, ⌀ 30.8 mm