Fifty Cents, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information

Fifty Cents, Coin Type from South Africa (issued 1961 - )
Coin TypeFifty Cents

The South African Fifty Cents coin (abbreviated as 50c) is a small circulating coin of the Rand currency. It was introduced when the currency was decimalised in 1961 and replaced the earlier pre-decimal five shillings coin, retaining its design, dimensions and metal content.

The silver version of the Fifty Cents was only issued for four years though; in 1965, the Second Decimal Series was introduced, in which the Fifty Cents denomination was made of nickel. This was changed to a smaller bronze-plated steel version with the Third Decimal Series in 1990.

Apart from the regular designs, there were also four commemorative issues with different obverses.

Obverse
South Africa / Fifty Cents - obverse photo

The first obverse, designed by Willie Myburg and used between 1961 and 1964, features the portrait of Johan Anthoniszoon van Riebeeck, known as Jan van Riebeeck (1619-1677), Dutch colonial administrator and founder of Cape Town and considered by many people to be the founding father of the South African nation. The designer's initials WM are incuse on the shoulder truncation.

Around left, the motto EENDRAG MAAK MAG in Afrikaans; separated from that by two decorative rosettes, around right the same in English: UNITY IS STRENGTH.

The second obverse (1965 - 1969), designed by Tommy Sasseen, has a different portrait of Jan van Riebeeck - facing right; the legend is in one language only - either SOUTH AFRICA or SUID-AFRIKA, with both versions issued every year.

The third obverse (1970 - 1989) displays the Coat of Arms of South Africa at its centre. Below it and to the right, in small letters the initials of the designer T.S. (for Tommy Sasseen).

Around left, the name of the country in English: SOUTH AFRICA; around right, the name in Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKA.

Below, the date of issue: * [year] *.

With the introduction of the steel version in 1990, the design of the Coat of Arms was slightly revised and the order of the legends was reversed. In 1996, the legend was changed to one language only: AFRIKA BORWA in Sepedi / Sesotho (Northern Sotho / Southern Sotho).

In 2000, the obverse was updated to the new Coat of Arms of the country, and an annual rotation of the language of the legend was introduced.
Obverse Inscription SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * [year] *
Reverse
South Africa / Fifty Cents - reverse photo

The first reverse design (1961 - 1964) continues the original reverse of the five shillings coin and shows at its centre a Springbok antelope, the national animal symbol of South Africa.

The designer's initials CLS (for Coert Laurens Steynberg) are in the right field between the letters IC of AFRICA and the ground under the Springbok.

Above, the date of issue: + [year] +.

Around left and around right, respectively the legend SUID-AFRIKA in Afrikaans and SOUTH AFRICA in English.

Around below, flanked by two rosettes, the value and denomination * 50 c. * (Fifty Cents).

The second reverse (1965 - 1990) depicts three flowers native to South Africa: an Arum Lily, an African Lily and a "Bird of Paradise" (Strelitzia).

To the right, the numeral value 50 (Fifty Cents).

Below right, the initials of the designer T.S. (for Tommy Sasseen).

The third reverse (1990 - present) shows only one plant - a Bird of Paradise, and the value and denomination are shown as 50 c.
Reverse Inscription 50 c
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Note that there are also some two-ounce silver bullion coins denominated as 50 cents in face value.

Coin Type: Fifty Cents - (72) Coins
Coin NameMintageSymbolLegend
Fifty Cents 1961 54,530 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) EENDRAG MAAK MAG * UNITY IS STRENGTH *
Fifty Cents 1962 24,868 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) EENDRAG MAAK MAG * UNITY IS STRENGTH *
Fifty Cents 1963 157,025 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) EENDRAG MAAK MAG * UNITY IS STRENGTH *
Fifty Cents 1964 127,000 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) EENDRAG MAAK MAG * UNITY IS STRENGTH *
Fifty Cents 1965 (English) unknown Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1965
Fifty Cents 1965 (Afrikaans) 53,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1965
Fifty Cents 1966 (English) 8,081,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1966
Fifty Cents 1966 (Afrikaans) 8,056,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1966
Fifty Cents 1967 (English) 77,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1967
Fifty Cents 1967 (Afrikaans) 52,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1967
Fifty Cents 1968 Swart (English) 750,000 SOUTH AFRICA 1968
Fifty Cents 1968 Swart (Afrikaans) 775,000 SUID-AFRIKA 1968
Fifty Cents 1969 (English) 19,968 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1969
Fifty Cents 1969 (Afrikaans) 7,968 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1969
Fifty Cents 1970 4,108,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1970 *
Fifty Cents 1971 5,074,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1971 *
Fifty Cents 1972 781,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1972 *
Fifty Cents 1973 1,054,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1973 *
Fifty Cents 1974 1,957,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1974 *
Fifty Cents 1975 4,906,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1975 *
Fifty Cents 1976 Fouché 9,653,000 SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1976 *
Fifty Cents 1977 10,215,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1977 *
Fifty Cents 1978 5,088,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1978 *
Fifty Cents 1979 Diederichs 5,066,000 SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1979 *
Fifty Cents 1980 4,283,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1980 *
Fifty Cents 1981 5,691,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1981 *
Fifty Cents 1982 Vorster 2,082,000 SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1982 *
Fifty Cents 1983 5,164,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1983 *
Fifty Cents 1984 9,698,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1984 *
Fifty Cents 1985 13,348,859 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1985 *
Fifty Cents 1986 2,301,100 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1986 *
Fifty Cents 1987 19,077,781 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1987 *
Fifty Cents 1988 27,705,250 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1988 *
Fifty Cents 1989 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1989 *
Fifty Cents 1990 (Nickel) 29,442,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1990 *
Fifty Cents 1990 (Steel) unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1990
Fifty Cents 1991 24,015,200 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1991
Fifty Cents 1992 18,015,050 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1992
Fifty Cents 1993 65,010,892 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1993
Fifty Cents 1994 12,006,690 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1994
Fifty Cents 1995 58,008,393 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1995
Fifty Cents 1996 41,016,503 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA BORWA 1996
Fifty Cents 1997 38,011,111 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA BORWA 1997
Fifty Cents 1998 1,159,538 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA BORWA 1998
Fifty Cents 1999 1,161,299 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA BORWA 1999
Fifty Cents 2000 (Old CoA) 1,163,470 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA BORWA 2000
Fifty Cents 2000 (New CoA) 1,152,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa AFRIKA BORWA 2000
Fifty Cents 2001 1,155,678 Coat of Arms of South Africa AFRIKA BORWA 2001
Fifty Cents 2002 16,003,250 Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2002
Fifty Cents 2002 Football 16,000,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2002
Fifty Cents 2002 Cricket unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2002
Fifty Cents 2003 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa 2003
Fifty Cents 2003 Cricket unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa 2003
Fifty Cents 2004 43,925,935 Coat of Arms of South Africa Suid-Afrika 2004
Fifty Cents 2005 26,609,944 Coat of Arms of South Africa uMzantsi Afrika 2005
Fifty Cents 2006 40,129,637 Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika 2006
Fifty Cents 2007 63,553,280 Coat of Arms of South Africa iSewula Afrika 2007
Fifty Cents 2008 141,313,563 Coat of Arms of South Africa Afurika Tshipembe 2008
Fifty Cents 2009 7,680,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa Ningizimu Afrika 2009
Fifty Cents 2010 55,104,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga 2010
Fifty Cents 2011 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2011
Fifty Cents 2012 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga 2012 Ningizimu Afrika
Fifty Cents 2013 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2013 Afrika-Dzonga
Fifty Cents 2014 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2014 South Africa
Fifty Cents 2015 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa 2015 Aforika Borwa
Fifty Cents 2016 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Suid-Afrika 2016 Afrika Borwa
Fifty Cents 2017 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa uMzantsi Afrika 2017 Suid-Afrika
Fifty Cents 2018 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika 2018 uMzantsi Afrika
Fifty Cents 2019 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iSewula Afrika 2019 iNingizimu Afrika
Fifty Cents 2020 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afurika Tshipembe 2020 iSewula Afrika
Fifty Cents 2021 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Ningizimu Afrika 2021 Afurika Tshipembe
Fifty Cents 2022 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga 2022 Ningizimu Afrika
Advertising
Buy Austrian Silver Philharmonics Online
Buy Austrian Silver Philharmonics Online
Fifty Cents: Details
CountrySouth Africa
CurrencyRand
Sub-types Fifty Cents, Silver
Fifty Cents, Nickel
Fifty Cents, Steel
From1961
Face Value50 (x Cent)
CurrentYes
Material
Designer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size
Mass
Advertising
Buy gold and silver bullion online!
Buy gold and silver bullion online!