Where did this money come from?
South African pound
A history told through its predecessors and the currencies that followed.
7 ancestors5 descendantsEstablished connections in this atlas
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DocumentedQualified
The incoming line
All 7 ancestors shown. Predecessors lead down to the selected currency. Later contributions join an existing currency; they do not establish its origin.
Predecessor332 BC–259 BC
Attic drachma accountingQualified · Intervening stages openLater contributionAD 296–AD 351
Egyptian silver drachma accountingQualified · Later contributionPredecessorAD 274–AD 375
Roman as–denarius–sestertius accountingQualified · Intervening stages openPredecessorAD 400–AD 700
Roman solidus–nomisma accountingQualified · Intervening stages openPredecessorAD 600–1087
Frankish denier–livre reckoningQualified · Intervening stages openLater contribution1826
Irish poundDocumented · Later contributionPredecessor1914–1925
Pound sterlingDocumentedThis currency
South African poundDates, conversion terms and evidence 7 connections
Irish pound Pound sterling
1826DocumentedLater contribution or absorption13/12 Irish pound = 1 GBPAccount equivalence described in Commons debate, not a market observation or enacted conversion instrument.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Egyptian silver drachma accounting Roman as–denarius–sestertius accounting
Evidence period: AD 296–AD 351QualifiedLater contribution or absorptionA span of evidence, not an exact foundation date.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Pound sterling South African pound
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Roman solidus–nomisma accounting Frankish denier–livre reckoning
Evidence period: AD 400–AD 700QualifiedEarlier ancestry; intervening stages remain openA span of evidence, not an exact foundation date.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Attic drachma accounting Egyptian silver drachma accounting
Evidence period: 332 BC–259 BCQualifiedEarlier ancestry; intervening stages remain openA span of evidence, not an exact foundation date.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Roman as–denarius–sestertius accounting Roman solidus–nomisma accounting
Evidence period: AD 274–AD 375QualifiedEarlier ancestry; intervening stages remain openA span of evidence, not an exact foundation date.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Frankish denier–livre reckoning Pound sterling
Evidence period: AD 600–1087QualifiedEarlier ancestry; intervening stages remain openA span of evidence, not an exact foundation date.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗What followed
1 direct successor or branch connected to this currency.
This currency
South African poundSuccessor or branchZAR
South African rand1961Documented0.5 South African pound = 1 ZAR
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The complete outgoing line
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This currency
South African poundSuccessor or branch1961
South African randDocumentedSuccessor or branch1974
Swazi lilangeniDocumentedSuccessor or branch1976
Botswana pulaDocumentedSuccessor or branch1980
Lesotho lotiDocumentedSuccessor or branch1993
Namibia dollarDocumentedDates, conversion terms and evidence 5 connections
South African pound South African rand
1961Documented0.5 South African pound = 1 ZARSouth Africa replaced its pound with two rand per pound.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗South African rand Botswana pula
1976Documented1 ZAR = 1 BWPBotswana introduced the pula in exchange for the rand at par. The initial guaranteed exchange window lasted 100 days.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗South African rand Swazi lilangeni
1974Documented1 ZAR = 1 SZLThe lilangeni became local money alongside the rand, with equal value and a programme to return rand cash. This was a local-currency succession with continuing co-circulation, not immediate extinction of rand use.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗South African rand Lesotho loti
1980Documented1 ZAR = 1 LSLLesotho introduced the loti at par with the previously circulating rand. Rand legal tender continued; month precision retained alongside the earlier IMF dossier.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗South African rand Namibia dollar
1993Documented1 ZAR = 1 NADNamibia introduced its dollar at par with the previously circulating rand. Rand remained legal tender alongside the new local currency.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗