A pocket full of change
CRESTA – Your democratic rights will always have a place in your pocket.
The last of South Africa’s 25 years of democracy coins have been launched by the reserve bank.
Not many countries in the world can point to their currency for lessons on their supreme law. South Africa is unique in that regard as the reserve bank just released the final set of commemorative coins celebrating the country’s 25 years of constitutional democracy.
To celebrate the release of the coins, the South African Reserve Bank invited the public to Cresta Shopping Centre to see the full set of coins and meet the designer of the new R5 coin, Laura Windvogel, commonly known as Lady Skollie. An exhibit was set up for all to view while Lady Skollie shared information on some of the designs of the coins and the process involved.
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She gave insight into what inspired her to go with her design of a spiraling queue on the reverse (tails) of the coin along with the words ‘Let us live and strive for freedom’. “The queue is reminiscent of the lines during South Africa’s first democratic elections. It represents the country’s commitment to change. This is what all the coins were meant to represent.”
In addition to Skollie’s coin which celebrates the birth of South Africa’s constitutional democracy, there are other coins that reflect some of our key fundamental rights.
There are five new R2 coins which dawn the following rights:
- Children’s rights (designed by Neo Mahlangu)
- Right to education (designed by Neo Mahlangu)
- Environmental rights (designed by Maaike Bakker)
- Freedom of movement and residence (designed by Rasty Knayles)
- Freedom of religion, belief, and opinion (designed by Peter Mammes).
Tumi Tsehlo, South African Mint managing director, explained the importance of having such coins, “The coins are a wonderful way to remind ourselves of the guiding role the constitution has played in shaping the country. The very nature of the SA25 range provides an opportunity for all South Africans to become informed about the constitution and appreciate its progressiveness.”
South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kganyago, announced the SA25 range of commemorative circulation coins in June as part of the celebrations to mark 25 years of SA’s constitutional democracy, together with a series of collectible coins.
The SARB would like to reiterate that the new commemorative circulation coins, like all other circulation coins, are normal circulation coins that are only worth their face value. The SARB issues commemorative circulation coins as part of its currency production function.
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