Five Cents, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information

Five Cents, Coin Type from South Africa (issued 1961 - 2011)
Coin TypeFive Cents

The South African Five Cents coin (abbreviated as 5c) was a small circulating coin of the Rand currency. It was introduced when the currency was decimalised in 1961 and replaced the earlier pre-decimal sixpence, retaining its design, dimensions and metal content.

The silver version of the Five Cents was only issued for four years though; in 1965, the Second Decimal Coinage was introduced, in which the Five Cents denomination was made of nickel. This was changed to a larger copper-plated steel version issued until 2011, after which time the denomination was discontinued.

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

The denomination has not been demonetised and the coins are still legal tender throughout the Common Monetary Area, although in practice they do not circulate due to their low value.

Obverse
South Africa / Five 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 UNITY IS STRENGTH in English; separated from that by two decorative rosettes, around right the same in Afrikaans: EENDRAG MAAK MAG.

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 - 2002) 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 Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKA; around left, the name in English: SOUTH AFRICA.

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 - DZONGA in Tsonga.

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 SUID-AFRIKA * SUID-AFRIKA * [year] *
Reverse
South Africa / Five Cents - reverse photo

The first reverse design (1961 - 1964) - a new rendition of the original sixpence reverse - shows at its centre a king protea flower in bloom. To the right of the base of it's stem, the designer's initials KG (for George Kruger Gray). Around, five bundles of fasces - their number matching the value, just as the original design of the sixpence had six bundles.

Above, the date of issue: · [year] ·.

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

Around below, flanked by two rosettes, the value and denomination * 5 c. * (Five Cents).

The second reverse (1965 - 1989) depicts a Blue Crane bird, looking right. To the right of the bird, the value and denomination 5 c (Five Cents).

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

The third reverse (1990 - 2011) bears a similar design, but the bird faces left and the value and denomination are on the left.

Reverse Inscription 5 c
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Note that there are also quarter-ounce silver bullion coins denominated as 5 cents in face value.

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Royal Mint
Royal Mint
Coin Type: Five Cents - (57) Coins
Coin NameMintageSymbolLegend
Five Cents 1961 1,486,530 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) UNITY IS STRENGTH * EENDRAG MAAK MAG *
Five Cents 1962 4,191,843 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) UNITY IS STRENGTH * EENDRAG MAAK MAG *
Five Cents 1963 8,058,025 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) UNITY IS STRENGTH * EENDRAG MAAK MAG *
Five Cents 1964 3,583,000 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) UNITY IS STRENGTH * EENDRAG MAAK MAG *
Five Cents 1965 (English) 32,715,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1965
Five Cents 1965 (Afrikaans) 32,689,999 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1965
Five Cents 1966 (English) 4,101,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1966
Five Cents 1966 (Afrikaans) 4,126,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1966
Five Cents 1967 (English) 4,590,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1967
Five Cents 1967 (Afrikaans) 4,615,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1967
Five Cents 1968 Swart (English) 6,025,000 SOUTH AFRICA 1968
Five Cents 1968 Swart (Afrikaans) 6,000,000 SUID-AFRIKA 1968
Five Cents 1969 (English) 5,020,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1969
Five Cents 1969 (Afrikaans) 5,032,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1969
Five Cents 1970 6,662,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1970 *
Five Cents 1971 20,341,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1971 *
Five Cents 1972 3,126,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1972 *
Five Cents 1973 17,103,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1973 *
Five Cents 1974 19,993,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1974 *
Five Cents 1975 22,000,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1975 *
Five Cents 1976 Fouché 48,991,000 SUID-AFRIKA SOUTH AFRICA 1976
Five Cents 1977 51,748,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1977 *
Five Cents 1978 30,069,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1978 *
Five Cents 1979 Diederichs 17,550,000 SUID-AFRIKA SOUTH AFRICA * 1979 *
Five Cents 1980 46,680,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1980 *
Five Cents 1981 40,361,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1981 *
Five Cents 1982 Vorster 47,248,000 SUID-AFRIKA SOUTH AFRICA * 1982 *
Five Cents 1983 57,501,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1983 *
Five Cents 1984 67,356,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1984 *
Five Cents 1985 57,176,859 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1985 *
Five Cents 1986 54,233,100 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1986 *
Five Cents 1987 42,791,297 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1987 *
Five Cents 1988 110,171,250 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1988 *
Five Cents 1989 35,540,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1989 *
Five Cents 1990 106,022,469 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1990
Five Cents 1991 74,026,800 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1991
Five Cents 1992 120,025,350 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1992
Five Cents 1993 90,018,692 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1993
Five Cents 1994 6,112,590 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1994
Five Cents 1995 153,014,293 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1995
Five Cents 1996 101,016,503 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA-DZONGA 1996
Five Cents 1997 228,011,111 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA-DZONGA 1997
Five Cents 1998 88,007,538 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA-DZONGA 1998
Five Cents 1999 57,009,299 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA-DZONGA 1999
Five Cents 2000 (Old CoA) 132,011,470 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA-DZONGA 2000
Five Cents 2000 (New CoA) 132,000,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa AFRIKA-DZONGA 2000
Five Cents 2001 82,003,678 Coat of Arms of South Africa AFRIKA-DZONGA 2001
Five Cents 2002 210,003,250 Coat of Arms of South Africa Ningizimu Afrika 2002
Five Cents 2003 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga 2003
Five Cents 2004 534,177,935 Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2004
Five Cents 2005 435,009,944 Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2005
Five Cents 2006 580,161,637 Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa 2006
Five Cents 2007 653,409,280 Coat of Arms of South Africa Suid-Afrika 2007
Five Cents 2008 788,417,563 Coat of Arms of South Africa uMzantsi Afrika 2008
Five Cents 2009 920,640,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika 2009
Five Cents 2010 220,192,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa iSewula Afrika 2010
Five Cents 2011 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afurika Tshipembe 2011
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Five Cents: Details
CountrySouth Africa
CurrencyRand
Sub-types Five Cents, Silver
Five Cents, Nickel
Five Cents, Steel
From1961
To2011
Face Value5 (x Cent)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 2012
Material
Designer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size
Mass