South Africa: fourth decimal coin series

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Obverse: 2 rand.

Image © South African Reserve Bank.

The 2 rand coin is made of nickel-plated steel.

It has a diameter of 23 mm and weighs 6.5 grams.


The obverse features the coat of arms.

SOUTH AFRICA appears in two languages:

isiNdebele (left) and Xitsonga (right).

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Reverse: 2 rand.

Image © South African Reserve Bank.

The reverse depicts two springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis).

Mountains appear in the background.


The springbok is South Africa's national animal.

It is predominantly found in southern and south-western Africa.

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Springboks.

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Obverse: 5 rand.

Image © South African Reserve Bank.

The 5 rand coin is the highest denomination of the series.

It is bimetallic, having an aluminium-bronze centre within a copper-nickel ring.

It has a diameter of 26 mm and weighs 9.5 grams.


The obverse features the coat of arms.

SOUTH AFRICA appears in three languages:

Tshivenda (left), Siswati/isiZulu (right), and isiXhosa.

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Reverse: 5 rand.

Image © South African Reserve Bank.

The reverse depicts two whales and three small fish.

The two whales are southern right whales (Eubalaena australis).

In the winter they migrate to South Africa's coastal waters.

No other country has issued standard circulation coins that feature whales.


The small fish are galjoen (Dichistius capensis).

This species is also known as the black bream.


This is the national fish of South Africa.

It is found only along the coast of South Africa.


There is a latent image below the main design.

It changes from RAND to FIVE when tilted.


Micro-lettering appears around the inner rim.

SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK appears six times.


The coin has a security edge.

It shows the Bank's initials and the denomination.

The characters SARB R5 appear 10 times.

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Galjoen fish.




Southern right whale.

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Here you see all the coins together.

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DIE SINKERS

10 cents:  Sebastian D. Naicker
20 cents:  Cecil Moses
50 cents:  Paul Botes
1 rand:     Vincent L. Chipa
2 rand:     Vincent L. Chipa
5 rand:     Marthinus J. Scheepers

Obverses: Marthinus J. Scheepers

DESIGNERS

10 cents:	Carl Jeppe
20 cents:	Sandile Zulu
50 cents:	Kotie Geldenhuys
1 rand (reverse):	Lilian Guerra
1 rand (obverse):	Richard Stone
2 rand:	Themba Mkhangeli
5 rand:	Sujay Sanan
Common obverse:	Lilian Guerra and Richard Stone

Only Lilian Guerra and Richard Stone are South African Mint artists.

Carl Jeppe and Kotie Geldenhuys have previously designed coins for S.A.M.

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EDGES

Each coin has a different edge.

This helps visually impaired persons to recognise the coins.

POLYGONAL INNER RIMS

The 10, 20, 50 cents and 1 and 2 rand coins have polygonal inner rims.

These have 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 sides respectively.

The coins themselves are all round.

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DENOMINATIONS LINKED TO DESIGNS



There are two springboks on the 2 rand coin.

On the 5 rand coin, there are two whales and three fish.

That makes five creatures in total.

See:  50 fish on 50 cents: Denomination reflected in design.

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CONCLUSION

This series does not include 1, 2 and 5 cents coins.

Minting of 1c and 2c coins ceased at the end of March 2002.


Minting of the 5c coin ceased on 1 April 2012.

The 5c coins are still legal tender.

However, they have mostly disappeared from circulation.

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See also:

1] Paul Kruger and the coinage of the South African Republic.

2] Coinage of the Union of South Africa.

3] First Coinage of the Republic of South Africa.

4] Second Coinage of the Republic of South Africa.

5] Third Coinage of the Republic of South Africa.

6] South Africa: design continuity.

7] South Africa: springbok design sketches by Coert Steynberg.

8] Numismatic changes in the new South Africa.

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