Coins from South Africa

The Republic of South Africa, situated at the southern part of the African continent, was founded on 31 May 1961, away from British rule and introduced a decimal coin series as a result. However, the predecessor of the Republic was the Union of South Africa, formed on 31 May 1910 out of 4 British Colonies: The Transvaal, Free State, Cape Colony and Natal. The first Europeans, the Dutch (1652-1795, 1803-1806), settled in the Cape in 1652, after which the English came (1795-1803, 1806-1960). Today, after the democratic elections of 1994, South Arica has three Capitols, Pretoria as the executive, Cape Town as the Legislative and Bloemfontein as the judicial. In 1923 the first coins in the Pound Sterling series were issued, depicting the British Monarch. Like all Pound sterling series, 12 Pennies make a Shilling and 20 Shillings a Pound. With the introduction of the decimal series in 1961, decimal coins of equal size and value to the Pound series were produced to ease the transition (1961 to 1964). In 1965 the second decimal series were introduced, radically reducing the size of the coins. In 1989/90 the current and third decimal series of coins were introduced, again reducing size, introducing a circulation 2 Rand coin for the first time and the first 5 Rand coin to follow in 1994. The Kruger Rand, made of pure gold, was the first (starting in 1967) international investment coin produced worldwide, and is still very popular. The country has 11 official languages (resulting in 10 different spellings of the name South Africa), and these are rotated on the coins from year to year. With a size of 1,221,037 km² (471,445 square miles) it is the 24th largest country in the world, boasting a population of more than 57 million people. South Africa is the birthplace of the legendary Nelson Mandela, who served as president from 1994 to 1999.
Wikidata: Q258 Read more

See also: South Africa (pre-Union)

• Rand (Gold Bullion Coinage)
• Rand (Silver Bullion Coinage)
• Pound (1825-1961)
• Rand (1961-date)

Rand (Gold Bullion Coinage)

25 Rand / 1 Ounce (FW de Klerk and NR Mandela)
2007
Non-circulating coin: Protea Series - Nobel Prize Winners
Gold (.9999) • 31.107 g • ⌀ 32.69 mm
KM# 409, Hern# COM29, N# 96491

25 Rand - 1 Ounce (Mahatma Gandhi)
2008
Non-circulating coin: Protea – The life of Gandhi
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.7 mm
KM# 453, Hern# COM30, N# 320857

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - Cheetah)
2002
Non-circulating coin: Wild Cats of Africa – Cheetah
Gold (.9999) • 15.553 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
KM# 412, Hern# NAT43, N# 215275

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - Lion)
2003
Non-circulating coin: Wild Cats of Africa – Lion
Gold (.9999) • 15.553 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
KM# 416, Hern# NAT48, N# 191421

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - Caracal)
2004
Non-circulating coin: Wild Cats of Africa – Caracal
Gold (.9999) • 15.55 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
KM# 420, Hern# NAT53, N# 345693

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - Hippopotamus)
2005
Non-circulating coin: Giants of Africa – Hippopotamus
Gold (.9999) • 15.55 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
KM# 424, Hern# NAT58, N# 345844

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - Giraffe)
2006
Non-circulating coin: Giants of Africa – Giraffe
Gold (.9999) • 15.55 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
KM# 428, Hern# NAT62, N# 346101

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - Eland)
2007
Non-circulating coin: Giants of Africa – Eland
Gold (.9999) • 15.55 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
KM# 432, Hern# NAT67, N# 346313

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - Elephant)
2008
Non-circulating coin: Giants of Africa – Elephant
Gold (.9999) • 15.55 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
KM# 449, Hern# NAT72, N# 346585

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - White Rhino)
2009
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – White Rhino
Gold (.9999) • 15.55 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
KM# 473, Hern# NAT77, N# 346685

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - Black Rhino)
2010
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Black Rhino
Gold (.9999) • 15.55 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
KM# 551, Hern# NAT82, N# 347163

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - Meerkat)
2011
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Meerkat
Gold (.9999) • 15.55 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
KM# 511, Hern# NAT87, N# 347198

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - African Painted Wolf)
2012
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Painted Wolf
Gold (.9999) • 15.55 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
KM# 527, Hern# NAT91, N# 347477

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - Zebra)
2013
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Zebra
Gold (.9999) • 15.55 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
Hern# NAT95, N# 347935

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - Leopard)
2014
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Leopard
Gold (.9999) • 15.55 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
Hern# NAT100, N# 348106

50 Rand - ½ Ounce (Natura - Jackal)
2015
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Jackal
Gold (.9999) • 15.55 g • ⌀ 27.0 mm
Hern# NAT104, N# 348485

50 Rand (The Big Five Series I - Rhino)
2020
Non-circulating coin: The Big Five – White Rhino
Gold (.9999) • 31.107 g • ⌀ 32.69 mm
N# 334249

50 Rand (Big Five Series II - African Elephant)
2022
Non-circulating coin: The Big Five II – African Elephant
Gold (.9999) • 31.107 g • ⌀ 32.69 mm
N# 352161

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Cheetah)
2002
Non-circulating coin: Wild Cats of Africa – Cheetah
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.69 mm
KM# 413, Hern# NAT42, Hern# NAT46, N# 342293

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Lion)
2003
Non-circulating coin: Wild Cats of Africa – Lion
Gold (.9999) • 31.107 g • ⌀ 32.69 mm
KM# 417, Hern# NAT47, Hern# NAT51, N# 191420

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Caracal)
2004
Non-circulating coin: Wild Cats of Africa – Caracal
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.69 mm
KM# 421, Hern# NAT52, Hern# NAT56, N# 342344

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Hippopotamus)
2005
Non-circulating coin: Giants of Africa – Hippopotamus
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.69 mm
KM# 425, Hern# NAT57, Hern# NAT61, N# 342449

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Giraffe)
2006
Non-circulating coin: Giants of Africa – Giraffe
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.69 mm
KM# 429, Hern# NAT61, Hern# NAT65, N# 342454

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Eland)
2007
Non-circulating coin: Giants of Africa – Eland
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.69 mm
KM# 433, Hern# NAT66, Hern# NAT70, N# 342474

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Elephant)
2008
Non-circulating coin: Giants of Africa – Elephant
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.69 mm
KM# 450, Hern# NAT71, Hern# NAT75, N# 77957

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - White Rhino)
2009
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – White Rhino
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.7 mm
KM# 474, Hern# NAT76, Hern# NAT80, N# 342527

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Black Rhino)
2010
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Black Rhino
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.7 mm
KM# 552, Hern# NAT81, Hern# NAT85, N# 342775

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Meerkat)
2011
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Meerkat
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.7 mm
KM# 512, Hern# NAT86, Hern# NAT90, N# 342788

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - African Painted Wolf)
2012
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Painted Wolf
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.7 mm
KM# 528, Hern# NAT90, Hern# NAT94, N# 342980

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Zebra)
2013
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Zebra
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.7 mm
Hern# NAT94, Hern# NAT98, N# 342990

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Leopard)
2014
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Leopard
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.7 mm
Hern# NAT99, Hern# NAT103, N# 343092

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Jackal)
2015
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Jackal
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.7 mm
Hern# NAT103, Hern# NAT107, N# 343103

100 Rand - 1 Ounce (Natura - Hyena)
2016
Non-circulating coin: Safari Through Africa – Hyena
Gold (.9999) • 31.11 g • ⌀ 32.7 mm
Hern# NAT108, Hern# NAT112, N# 343247

200 Rand (World Cup Soccer)
2010
Non-circulating coin: World Cup Soccer
Gold (.999) • 31.1 g • ⌀ 32.7 mm
KM# 548, Fr# 49, Hern# COM33, N# 320663

Rand (Silver Bullion Coinage)

2½ Cents (Knysna Seahorse)
1997
Non-circulating coin: Marine Series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 174, Hern# Nm1, N# 131479

2½ Cents (African Penguin)
1998
Non-circulating coin: Marine Series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 176, Hern# Nm2, N# 146000

2½ Cents (Great White Shark)
1999
Non-circulating coin: Marine Series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 217, Hern# Nm3, N# 138716

2½ Cents (Octopus)
2000
Non-circulating coin: Marine Series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 233, Hern# Nm4, N# 146002

2½ Cents (Dolphin)
2001
Non-circulating coin: Marine Series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 242, Hern# Nm5, N# 138812

2½ Cents (Whales)
2002
Non-circulating coin: Marine Series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 282, Hern# Nm6, N# 146095

2½ Cents (Eagles)
2003
Non-circulating coin: Birds of Prey Series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 285, Hern# Nm7, N# 146093

2½ Cents (Owl)
2004
Non-circulating coin: Birds of Prey Series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 283, Hern# Nm8, N# 138813

2½ Cents (Vultures)
2005
Non-circulating coin: Birds of Prey Series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 384, Hern# Nm9, N# 171524

2½ Cents (Secretary Birds)
2006
Non-circulating coin: Birds of Prey Series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 349, Hern# Nm10, N# 146094

2½ Cents (International Polar year)
2007
Non-circulating coin: International Polar Year
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 350, Hern# Nm11, N# 171527

2½ Cents (Polar Year)
2008
Non-circulating coin: International Polar Year
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 456, Hern# Nm12, N# 146090

2½ Cents (Vasco de Gama)
2009
Non-circulating coin: Maritime History of South Africa series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 480, Hern# Nm13, N# 146425

2½ Cents (Mail Steamship)
2010
Non-circulating coin: Maritime History of South Africa series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 537, Hern# Nm14, N# 146426

2½ Cents (Van Der Stel)
2011
Non-circulating coin: Maritime History of South Africa series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 519, Hern# Nm15, N# 25578

2½ Cents (Gautrain)
2012
Non-circulating coin: Trains of South Africa series
Silver (.925) • 1.414 g • ⌀ 16.3 mm
KM# 556, Hern# Nm16, N# 171547