Page 97 - The Lugdunum Auction 25

The 1898 “Tickey” or “Samuel Marks Tickey” is a rare gold coin from the South African Republic
(Z.A.R.), struck privately in 22-carat gold as a 3 pence “tickey” using dies meant for silver coins.
Considered as one of South Africa’s “Big 5” rare coins, it symbolizes personal ambition, political
connections, and numismatic scarcity during the Boer era.
Samuel Marks, a Lithuanian-born Jewish immigrant, rose from peddler to industrialist in South Africa,
partnering with Isaac Lewis, profiting from diamonds, expanding into coal and manufacturing, then
relocating to Pretoria after the gold rush. There, he befriended President Paul Kruger and funded the
Pretoria–Lourenço Marques railway, which earned him the right to have a one-day access to the Pretoria
Mint. In gratitude, Marks struck 215 gold “tickeys” from his own gold, gifting them to associates and
officials.
Although dated 1898, evidence suggests the coins were minted later, possibly during the Second
Anglo-Boer War, under approval from State Secretary Francis William Reitz. Their official status is
unclear—no silver 3 pence coins exist for 1898, and the origin of gold blanks is uncertain. The dies are
now at the South African Mint Museum.

SOUTH AFRICA
REPUBLIC.

352 Gold Pattern "Tickey" 3 Pence 1898, Pretoria. KM PnA23; Hern ZP5.
PATTERN. GOLD. Extremely rare. Only 215 pieces minted. Uncirculated
- In an NGC Holder, graded SP 62 15.000.-

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
SHEIKDOM.
353 Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, 1918-2004. 750 Dirhams AH 1400 (1980). Year of the child. 17,11 g. Fr. 3;
KM 8. GOLD. 3'063 pieces minted. Proof. Slightly touched, otherwise uncirculated 1.000.-

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