South Africa’s Fourth Decimal Coin Series: A Celebration of Natural Heritage

In honor of Heritage Month this September, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has unveiled its fourth decimal coin series, celebrating the country’s natural wonders. This coin series, the first complete set to be issued under democratic dispensation, features a contemporary aesthetic and a central theme of deep ecology. Each coin showcases elements of South Africa’s national identity, including culture, symbols, history, languages, flora and fauna, cities, and technological advancements.

Designs and Engravings

Esteemed South African artists collaborated with organizations like the South African National Botanical Institute (SANBI), Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), and the Institute for the Blind to ensure inclusivity, accuracy, and accessibility across all design elements. The six coin denominations and their respective artists are as follows:

1. 10c ‘Cape honey bee’ by Carl Jeppe
2. 20c ‘bitter aloe’ by Zinhle Zulu
3. 50c ‘Knysna turaco’ by Kotie Geldenhuys
4. R1 ‘king protea’ by Lilian Guerra and Richard Stone
5. R2 ‘springbok’ by Temba Mkhangeli
6. R5 ‘southern right whale’ by Sujay Sanan

Each coin retains familiar colors with unique landing patterns on various sides to enable the visually impaired to identify the coin’s value. The designs not only showcase a modern makeover but also feature enhanced security measures to deter replication.

Coin Descriptions

The 10c coin, designed by Carl Jeppe, features the Cape honey bee, which plays a vital role in South Africa’s agriculture and economy. Zinhle Zulu’s 20c coin bears the bitter aloe, a tall, single-stemmed plant native to Southern Africa. Kotie Geldenhuys designed the 50c coin, adorned with the elegant Knysna turaco, a large bird native to South Africa.

The R1 coin features the national flower of South Africa, the king protea, known for having the largest flower head in its genus. Lilian Guerra and Richard Stone collaborated on this design, highlighting the flower’s adaptation to survive wildfires through underground stems containing dormant buds that sprout new growth after a fire.

Temba Mkhangeli designed the R2 coin, featuring the national animal of South Africa, the springbok, known for its remarkable leaps. Lastly, the R5 coin showcases the southern right whale, typically found in the southern hemisphere’s southern regions. Designed by Sujay Sanan, the coin pays homage to these majestic creatures that migrate to South Africa’s coastal waters during winter.

Although these coins present a fresh look, they remain circulation coins, holding their face value and usable alongside earlier circulation coin series. As a tribute to the country’s natural legacy, the fourth decimal coin series stands as a testament to the beauty, diversity, and resilience of South Africa’s natural heritage.