Fifty Cents, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information

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.

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.

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