First Strike Ceremony for a special edition of the 2010 Krugerrand Berlin

The Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa in Berlin, Sonwabo Eddie Funde, shows a special edition of the 2010 Krugerrand struck at the Staatliche Berliner Münze. From left to right: Mr. Mvinjelwa, Managing Director of SA Mint Mr. Beck, Honorary President of the World Money Fair, Ambassador Funde, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, Dr. Schikora, Managing Director of the Staatliche Münze Berlin, Mr. Göhrum, President of the World Money Fair.

PRESS RELEASE
                   
The Krugerrand, South Africa's enduring success story, will be struck in Germany!

On the 28 of January at 10h00, the world's most traded gold coin, the South African Krugerrand, was struck at the Berlin Mint. This first strike ceremony was an appropriate commemoration for the birth of the Kruger pounds in 1892 in Berlin.

The Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, Sonwabo Eddie Funde did the official first strike of these historic coins at the Berlin Mint in Ollenhauerstrasse.

Only 600 of these Krugerrands will be minted with a special Berlin Bear Mintmark to indicate where the coin was struck and form part of the 2010 Krugerrand Berlin Launch set. A special commemorative proof silver medallion, with the obverse designed by the South African Mint and the reverse designed by the Berlin Mint, will complete these rare Krugerrand sets.

The first South African Kruger pounds were developed in Berlin a hundred and eighteen years ago by the German medalist Otto Schulz at the Kaiserliche Muenze, Berlin. The original "Otto Schulz" bust of Paul Kruger is the same effigy that is being used on the modern Krugerrands today.

 The first Krugerrands, containing exactly one ounce of fine gold, were sold in July 1967. The success of the Krugerrand blazed the trail for other gold producing countries, with the launch of three more gold bullion coins: The Gold Maple leaf (Canada 1979), The Gold Libertad (Mexico 1981) and the Gold Panda (China 1982). Other countries were to follow suit with the launch in 1986 of the United States'Gold America Eagle in 1987, Australia's Kangaroo Nugget, the UK's Gold Britannia and Austria's Vienna Philharmonic in 1989. However, the Krugerrand - known to millions around the world - remains the world's most widely held and most actively traded gold bullion coin.

This launch is happening in an extraordinary year for South Africa as South Africans world-wide are in active anticipation to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa(tm). For the first time in soccer history, the FIFA World Cup will be hosted on the African continent. To celebrate this, the organizers of the "World Money Fair", which is held from 29th until 31st of January 2010 in Berlin, decided to invite the South African Mint as the official Guest of Honor.

"The South African Mint is looking forward to represent our beautiful country at the 2010 World Money Fair where we will be showcasing the official 2010 FIFA World Cup(tm) coins and medallions" says South African Mint Deputy General Manager, Natanya van Niekerk.

Picture: Copyright Andreas Schoelzel

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