William Burchell had this to say about "money" in South Africa in 1811 (source: Travels in the interior of South Africa, vol one, page 78-79):
The only money in general circulation, is small countersigned pieces of paper, bearing value from the trifling sum of one schelling. or six pence currency, upwards to five hundred rix-dollars each. The only current coin are English penny-pieces, which here pass for the value of two pence, and are called dubbeltjes. Spanish dollars are used in Cape Town, rather as bullion than as coin; their value varying according to the rate of exchange. Accounts are kept in rix dollars, schellings and stivers; although the value of estates and possessions is often rated in guilders, three of which make a rix-dollar. Six stivers are equal to one schelling, and eight schellings to one rix-dollar or four shillings currency; but the value of this currency is excessively reduced by the rate of exchange, which in 1810, was 33% in favour of England, and has since that time gradually risen to above 120%. This enormous premium for bills on England is attributable to the want of exportable colonial produce; wine being the only stable commodity, excepting a few hides, some whale-oil, and an inconsiderable quantity of ivory, ostrich feathers, gum-aloes, argol and a few other articles of little weight in the scale of general commerce.
Source:
Page 78, Vol I, Burchell
Page 79, Vol I, Burchell
Click on blue text on image below for more info on the coinage in use in South Africa from 1860 on....
