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RSA (Pre-1994): Eli Levine / Gold Society

RSA (Pre-1994): Eli Levine / Gold SocietyRSA (Pre-1994): Eli Levine / Gold Society
Form: Circular
By: Pagliari
Date: 1979
Ref:  Laidlaw: 0675;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
32 mmGold Plated Bronze$20

Edge: Plain.

Obverse: Bareheaded bust of Levine with beard and spectacles, right. Signed: “PAGLIARI” on the truncation. Legend above: "ELI LEVINE . PRESIDENT" and below between stops: "1979".

Reverse: Protea flower. Legend above: “THE GOLD SOCIETY" and below between stops: "DIE GOUDGENOOTSKAP".

Notes: Comes encapsulated in a transparent hard plastic holder (like a graded coin) labeled: "SEALED BY /The Gold Society / GOLD PLATED BRONZE" which is inside a blue case.

Eli Levine was the author of the books, 'Coinage and Counterfeits of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek' and 'Coins of South Africa'. He developed a method of grading the quality of proof Krugerrands and, through his company the SA Gold Coin Exchange, succeeded in creating a market for these encapsulated coins. For a while, high graded coins were sold at a huge premium. The market collapsed in the 1980s and has never recovered.