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
See also: South Africa (pre-Union)
Pound (1825-1961)
12 Pence = 1 Shilling • 20 Shillings = 1 Pound
2 Shillings - George V1931-1936
Silver (.800) • 11.31 g • ⌀ 28.7 mm
KM# 22, Hern# S244-249, N# 24473
2 Shillings - George VI (2 Shillings, IMPERATOR)1937-1947
Silver (.800) • 11.31 g • ⌀ 28.7 mm
KM# 29, Hern# S250-260, N# 10283
2 Shillings - George VI (2 Shillings, SEXTVS REX)1948-1950
Silver (.800) • 11.31 g • ⌀ 28.7 mm
KM# 38.1, Hern# S261-263, N# 14730
2 Shillings - George VI (2S)1951-1952
Silver (.500) • 11.31 g • ⌀ 28.7 mm
KM# 38.2, Hern# S264-265, N# 3595
2 Shillings - Elizabeth II (1st portrait)1953-1960
Silver (.500) • 11.31 g • ⌀ 28.7 mm
KM# 50, Hern# S266-273, N# 14731
2½ Shillings - George V (2½ Shillings 2½)1923-1925
Silver (.800) • 14.14 g • ⌀ 32.3 mm
KM# 19.1, Hern# S274-276, N# 21732
2½ Shillings - George V (2½ Shillings, ZUID-AFRIKA)1926-1930
Silver (.800) • 14.14 g • ⌀ 32.3 mm
KM# 19.2, Hern# S277-281, N# 27043
2½ Shillings - George V (2½ Shillings, SUID-AFRIKA)1931-1936
Silver (.800) • 14.14 g • ⌀ 32.3 mm
KM# 19.3, Hern# S282-287, N# 21733
2½ Shillings - George VI (2½ Shillings, IMPERATOR)1937-1947
Silver (.800) • 14.14 g • ⌀ 32.3 mm
KM# 30, Hern# S288-298, N# 14732
2½ Shillings - George VI (2½ Shillings, SEXTVS REX)1948-1950
Silver (.800) • 14.14 g • ⌀ 32.3 mm
KM# 39.1, Hern# S299-301, N# 38042
2½ Shillings - George VI (2½S)1951-1952
Silver (.500) • 14.14 g • ⌀ 32.3 mm
KM# 39.2, Hern# S302-303, N# 21406
2½ Shillings - Elizabeth II (1st portrait)1953-1960
Silver (.500) • 14.14 g • ⌀ 32.3 mm
KM# 51, Hern# S304-311, N# 6084
5 Shillings - George VI (5 Shillings, IMPERATOR)1947
Silver (.800) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 31, Hern# S312, N# 10629
5 Shillings - George VI (5 Shillings, SEXTVS REX)1948-1950
Silver (.800) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 40.1, Hern# S313-315, N# 11620
5 Shillings - George VI (5S)1951
Silver (.500) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 40.2, Hern# S316, N# 13487
5 Shillings - George VI (Cape Town Anniversary)1952
Circulating commemorative coin: 300th anniversary of the founding of Capetown
Silver (.500) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 41, Hern# S317, N# 12759
5 Shillings - Elizabeth II (1st portrait)1953-1959
Silver (.500) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 52, Hern# S318-324, N# 11621
5 Shillings - Elizabeth II (South African Union)1960
Circulating commemorative coin: 50th anniversary of the Union of South Africa
Silver (.500) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 55, Hern# S325, N# 14733
½ Pound - George VI1952
Non-circulating coin
Gold (.917) • 3.99 g • ⌀ 19.5 mm
KM# 42, Hern# S329, N# 44915
½ Pound - Elizabeth II (1st portrait)1953-1960
Gold (.917) • 3.99 g • ⌀ 19.5 mm
KM# 53, Hern# S330-337, N# 89757
1 Sovereign - George V (Modified Effigy)1929-1932
Gold (.917) • 7.99 g • ⌀ 22.0 mm
KM# A22, Hern# S344-347, N# 27532
1 Pound - George VI1952
Non-circulating coin
Gold (.917) • 7.99 g • ⌀ 22.0 mm
KM# 43, Hern# S348, N# 44913
1 Pound - Elizabeth II (1st portrait)1953-1960
Gold (.917) • 7.99 g • ⌀ 22.0 mm
KM# 54, Hern# S349-356, N# 89758
Rand (1961-date)
100 Cents = 1 Rand
½ Cent (SOUTH AFRICA - SUID-AFRIKA)1970-1983
Bronze • 2.0 g • ⌀ 16.21 mm
KM# 81, Hern# D1-6, 8/9, 11/12, 14, N# 2878
½ Cent (Jacobus Johannes Fouché)1976
Non-circulating coin: The end of Jacobus Johannes Fouche's presidency
Bronze • 2.0 g • ⌀ 16.21 mm
KM# 90, Hern# D7, N# 25716
½ Cent (Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs)1979
Non-circulating coin: The end of Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs' presidency
Bronze • 2.0 g • ⌀ 16.21 mm
KM# 97, Hern# D10, N# 25715
½ Cent (Balthazar J. Vorster)1982
Non-circulating coin: The end of Balthazar Johannes Vorster's presidency
Bronze • 2.0 g • ⌀ 16.21 mm
KM# 108, Hern# D13, N# 32285
1 Cent (1st decimal series)1961-1964
Brass • 9.42 g • ⌀ 31.0 mm
KM# 57, Hern# R5-9, Schön# 78.2, N# 2879
1 Cent (English Legend - SOUTH AFRICA)1965-1969
Bronze • 3.0 g • ⌀ 19.05 mm
KM# 65.1, Hern# D16, 19, 21, 25, N# 5966
1 Cent (Afrikaans Legend - SUID-AFRIKA)1965-1969
Bronze • 3.0 g • ⌀ 19.05 mm
KM# 65.2, Hern# D17, 20, 22, 26, N# 1759
1 Cent (Charles Swart; English Legend - SOUTH AFRICA)1968
Circulating commemorative coin: The end of Charles Robberts Swart's presidency
Bronze • 3.0 g • ⌀ 19.05 mm
KM# 74.1, Hern# D23, N# 8259
1 Cent (Charles Swart; Afrikaans Legend - SUID-AFRIKA)1968
Circulating commemorative coin: The end of Charles Robberts Swart's Presidency
Bronze • 3.0 g • ⌀ 19.05 mm
KM# 74.2, Hern# D24, N# 6228
1 Cent (SUID-AFRIKA - SOUTH AFRICA)1970-1989
Bronze • 3.0 g • ⌀ 19.05 mm
KM# 82, Hern# D27-32, 34/5, 37/8, 40-46, Schön# 121, N# 1794
1 Cent (Jacobus Johannes Fouché)1976
Circulating commemorative coin: The end of Jacobus Johannes Fouche's presidency
Bronze • 3.0 g • ⌀ 19.05 mm
KM# 91, Hern# D33, Schön# 131, N# 5965
1 Cent (Nicolaas J. Diederichs)1979
Circulating commemorative coin: Death and End of N. J. Diederichs' Presidency
Bronze • 3.0 g • ⌀ 19.05 mm
KM# 98, Hern# D36, N# 1796
1 Cent (Balthazar J. Vorster)1982
Circulating commemorative coin: The end of Balthazar Johannes Vorster's presidency
Bronze • 3.0 g • ⌀ 19.05 mm
KM# 109, Hern# D39, N# 6645
1 Cent (SOUTH AFRICA - SUID-AFRIKA)1990-1995
Copper plated steel • 1.5 g • ⌀ 15.0 mm
KM# 132, Hern# Na1-6, Schön# 169, N# 835
1 Cent (ININGIZIMU AFRIKA)1996
Copper plated steel • 1.5 g • ⌀ 15.0 mm
KM# 158, Hern# Na7, Schön# 214, N# 2880
1 Cent (ISEWULA AFRIKA)1997-2000
Copper plated steel • 1.5 g • ⌀ 15.0 mm
KM# 170, Hern# Na8-11, Schön# 215, N# 2480
1 Cent (ISEWULA AFRIKA)2000-2001
Copper plated steel • 1.5 g • ⌀ 15.0 mm
KM# 221, Hern# Na12, Hern# Na13, Schön# 282, N# 2881
2 Cents (English Legend - SOUTH AFRICA)1965-1969
Bronze • 4.0 g • ⌀ 22.45 mm
KM# 66.1, Hern# D50, 52, 54, 58, N# 3402
2 Cents (Afrikaans Legend - SUID-AFRIKA)1965-1969
Bronze • 4.0 g • ⌀ 22.45 mm
KM# 66.2, Hern# D51, 53, 55, 59, N# 3403
2 Cents (English Legend - SOUTH AFRICA)1968
Circulating commemorative coin: The end of Charles Robberts Swart's Presidency
Bronze • 4.0 g • ⌀ 22.45 mm
KM# 75.1, Hern# D56, N# 8450
The Numista referee for coins of this issuer is Pcoetzee5.
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