🇿🇦 Thomas van der Spuy's Bio
Born in South Africa and now residing on the island of Mauritius, I have been a passionate numismatist since the age of seven. What began as a childhood fascination has grown into a lifelong commitment to collecting, researching, and preserving South Africa’s rich numismatic heritage.
My primary collection is the internationally recognised Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) Custom Registry Set, regarded as the finest collections of its kind. Beyond the ZAR series, I collect significant South African trophy coins, selected Union proof sets, South African banknotes, the ORA coupons and both the gold and silver Krugerrand series.
Research has always been central to my collecting philosophy. Over the years I have undertaken extensive research into the coinage and history of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, believing that every great collection should contribute to the understanding and preservation of numismatic knowledge.
Throughout my collecting journey I have been honoured to receive several prestigious awards, including the Walter Bergmann Trophy, the Natalie Jaffe Trophy and the SAAND Award for leadership in Numismatics - all recognising the contribution made to South African numismatics.
I am the founder of the South African Coin Collectors Club, the largest numismatic organisation in South Africa - dedicated to promoting numismatics and inspiring the next generation of collectors. I am also a member of the American Numismatic Association, the Western Cape Numismatic Association, the Gauteng Numismatic Society, the Pietermaritzburg Numismatic Society, and the Durban Coin Club.
Today, my greatest passion lies not only in building exceptional collections, but in advancing the study, appreciation, and preservation of South African numismatics. I believe every coin carries a story, and through research, education, and responsible stewardship, those stories can continue to inspire collectors for generations to come.