South Africa’s R5 circulation coin gets a new face
The SARB issued five new R2 coins over the past three months to mark South Africa’s 25 years of constitutional democracy
The South African Mint, a wholly owned subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), today released a new R5 coin themed ‘Let us live and strive for freedom’, the last coin in the range of SA25 commemorative circulation coins.
The SARB issued five new R2 coins over the past three months to mark South Africa’s 25 years of constitutional democracy.
The SA25 themed ‘Celebrating South Africa’ series also included three collectable coins in gold, silver and bronze alloy.
Designed by Johannesburg-based Lady Skollie, the coin’s imagery is a complementary interpretation of the famous images of South Africa’s polling stations in 1994 with their snake-like qualities of running into coils of people, which continues to capture the world’s imagination.
On its reverse (tails) side, the coin features people standing in a queue waiting to cast their vote, inspired by the country’s first democratic elections, with words ‘Let us live and strive for freedom’. The line originates from the fourth stanza of the South African national anthem.
The obverse (heads) features the national coat of arms together with the date of issue, ‘2019’, and the words ‘South Africa’ written as ‘Afrika Borwa’ (Sepedi or Sesotho) and ‘Aforika Borwa’ (Setswana).
All the SA25 commemorative circulation coins issued by the SARB and the South African Mint, including the collectable range, use a common typeface created by Garth Walker for the Constitutional Court.
The typography, as reflected on the commemorative coinage, was created in 2003/04 as a unique way-finding system font for the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Garth Walker is credited for the layout of the R5 coins using the typeface.
South African Mint Managing Director Tumi Tsehlo said, ‘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.’
The South African Mint regularly creates commemorative coins to mark important milestones, having done so earlier this year with three collectable coins, a R500 gold coin, a R50 sterling silver coin and a R50 bronze alloy coin as part of its SA25 ‘Celebrating South Africa’ series.
The South African Mint also launched special edition collector’s sets which include all the circulations coins, the R50 silver and the R50 bronze alloy collectable coins. The sets and collectable coins can be purchased from the South
African Mint’s retail store in Centurion, as well as the various other outlets listed on the SA25 website.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
