GRIQUAS DOVE MONEY

Griquatown is located in the Northern Cape Province, approximately 120 kilometers west of the chief town Kimberley. It occupies an area 50 000 sq. km. It is situated north of the Orange River and west of Orange Free State province. It is a semi-desert country, noted for its diamond fields.

The Griquas or "basters" originated from a mixture of slave, Hottentot and European blood. They were not permitted to mingle with the white society in the Cape and eventually settled in the area south of the Orange River. In 1803, persuaded by missionaries they settled at Klaarwater, north of the Orange River, near the present day Kimberley. They were good hunters and drove the Bushmen and other tribes from the area. At Klaarwater they focused on farming and barter, exchanging their ivory, skins and ostrich feathers for articles such as sugar, coffee and ammunition.
At the same time European traders begin to move deeper into the interior beyond the borders of the Cape of Good Hope Colony.

In 1812 Klaarwater's name was changed to Griquatown and "baster" was replaced by Griqua. This was done on recommendation by the Rev. John Campbell of the London Missionary Society. He also suggested the implementation of a coin system to promoting the trade of the community.

Dove money were issued by the London Missionary Society and denominated on the British system.

The following undated denominations of dove money were struck in 1815 and 1816 at Birmingham:

10 pence silver
5 pence silver portrayed as "11111"
Half penny copper
Quarter penny copper

The word "Griqua" appears in a semi-circle above the figures and at the bottom of the circle the word "Town". All the coins portray the dove of peace with an olive branch in its beak on the reverse.

 Pattern coins

In 1890 two pattern types of dove money were struck by Otto Nolte & Co. in Berlin for advertising purposes. On the obverse of the penny appears the "young head" of Queen Victoria, the same legend as the Cape of Good Hope pattern penny. The reverse depicts the dove of peace bearing an olive branch, the emblem of the London Missionary Society.

There are two variations:

The smooth edge bronze penny is dated 1890 with "Griqua Town" above the dove and 3 small stars on either side. The diameter is 1.22, thickness 0.085 and weight 165.75 g.

The undated bronze penny with the word "Griqua" above the dove and below it "town". On either side of the dove is a small star. Details are the same as above with the exception of the weight which is 162.25 g.

The following dove money patterns also exist:

10 pence copper
5 pence copper
Half penny lead and a variation with the “½” in thick figures.   

Quarter penny lead

The following patterns have been recorded and are probably unique.

¼ penny copper gilt, diam. 1.04

¼ penny copper gilt, diam. 0.89

1 penny struck in nickel

The Griqua dove money had a short and limited circulation in Griqualand West. The entire Griqua population consisted of approximately 1260 people. They had no idea of metallic coin or a metallic standard. The extent of their trade with the Colony was a mere 50 pounds a year. The experiment was not a success and the coins were withdrawn. They are extremely rare today.