Known as the King of South African Coins, the 1898 Single 9 Pond is one-of-a-kind. Amid the Second Anglo-Boer War, President Paul Kruger of the South African Republic ordered the minting of new gold coins for 1899. After the British seized a shipment of dies from Germany, the government decided to reuse the 1898 die and stamp a nine on the obverse side to indicate the new year. However, after they struck the first one, it was apparent the numeral was too large and extended over President Kruger’s bust. Instead, they continued with two smaller nines, minting 130 of the Double 99. The Single 9 coin was set aside until it was gifted to the United States Consul General C.E. Macrum, who scratched the letter M onto the bust. It disappeared for several years before showing up in King Farouk of Egypt’s extensive collection.