Leopard coin completes Big 5 minted coins set paying homage to South Africa’s revered wildlife

THE penultimate coin of the SA Mint’s Big 5 series has been launched and pays homage to one of the most elusive big cats in the world – the leopard.

This coin joins the other Big 5 minted coins that pay homage to South Africa’s revered wildlife.

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A wholly-owned subsidiary of the SA Reserve Bank, the SA Mint launched its bi-annual Big 5 coin programme last year, which featured wildlife synonymous with southern Africa, namely the elephant, lion, rhinoceros, leopard and the buffalo.

Of the Big 5, the leopard is the most difficult to spot as it is a shy and secretive creature that is mainly nocturnal.

The coin range consists of a 24ct 1oz proof gold coin, a 1oz proof platinum coin, an uncirculated (BU) fine silver coin and a proof quality silver double capsule set.

The range also includes two combination sets – the 1oz Big 5 leopard and 1oz Krugerrand privy marked fine silver proof coin set, and the 1oz Big 5 leopard and 1oz Krugerrand privy marked gold proof coin set.

The Big 5 leopard coin range’s distinctive design gives an impressively detailed depiction of this elusive big cat.

The reverse of the coin features two halves of the face of a leopard and when two coins are placed next to each other, a complete image of the face is seen.

When multiple coins are placed next to each other, a leap of leopards is formed.

The obverse of the coin features a side view of the leopard, with its characteristic spots indented in the metal.

The face fills up much of the surface area of the coin, and the words ‘South Africa’, ‘Big 5 2020’ appear below the image, with the national coat of arms in the centre, signifying its legal tender status.

The South African Mint made a commitment to support conservation efforts directed at protecting the Big 5 with the coin programme launch in 2019.

As a result, a partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Trust was announced at the beginning of the year.

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