Mint makes World Cup coin series

ALEISHA TISSEN

JOHANNESBURG - Next year’s soccer spectacular has been immortalised in a series of coins.

The South African Mint pressed a pure gold coin with the mark of the 2010 Fifa World Cup on the field at Soccer City in Soweto, yesterday.

Dignitaries watched as an antique flypress, brought especially, struck a quarter-ounce gold coin with the official South African Fifa logo.

The Mint has developed a coin series to celebrate 2010’s games.

The first was minted in 2006; a gold quarter-ounce and a R2 silver crown for the event held in Berlin.

In 2007, the Mint added a coin to the series to celebrate 2010 by minting a gold tenth-of-an-ounce coin, and a series of three coins in 2008.

This year’s additions to the series all feature 2010 mascot Zakumi. A one-ounce gold coin is to join the series next year, along with a series of pure silver medallions.

The 2009 set consists of a R2 silver crown, a tenth-of-an-ounce 24 carat gold R1 coin and a quarter-ounce 24 carat R2.