Five Rand, Bimetallic, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information

Five Rand, Bimetallic, Coin Type from South Africa (issued 2004 - )
Coin TypeFive Rand, Bimetallic

The Rand currency was introduced in the then Union of South Africa on 14 February 1961, shortly before the establishment of the Republic on 31 May 1961. The largest circulating coin at the time was fifty cents; gradually, new coins were introduced to replace banknotes, with the highest circulating denomination now being Five Rand (abbreviated as R5).

The first R5 coins were made of Nickel-plated copper and were similar to the R2 and R1 coins of the time. The reverse depicts a Black Wildebeest or Gnu; these large animals are found in the northern grassveld regions of the Cape Province, throughout the Orange Free State to KwaZulu-Natal and the southern regions of Gauteng. The obverse shows the Coat of Arms of South Africa at its centre. The legend is bilingual, with an annual rotation of the languages (South Africa has eleven official languages, and each year two of them are used on the R5 coin).

In 2004, the denomination changed to this larger bi-metallic coin (with a brass centre and copper-nickel outer ring), retaining the same design with some modifications; the earlier coins were not demonetised and are still legal tender.

Obverse
South Africa / Five Rand, Bimetallic - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin shows at its centre the Coat of Arms of South Africa, as adopted on Freedom Day 27 April 2000.

The Coat of Arms is a series of elements organised in distinct symmetric egg-like or oval shapes placed on top of one another. The completed structure combines the lower and higher oval shape in a symbol of infinity. The path that connects the lower edge of the scroll, through the lines of the tusks, with the horizon above and the sun rising at the top, forms the shape of the cosmic egg from which the secretary bird rises. In the symbolic sense, this is the implied rebirth of the spirit of the great and heroic nation of South Africa.

The motto in the semicircle around below, ǃKE E꞉ ǀXARRA ǁKE, is written in the Khoisan language of the ǀXam people and translates literally to "diverse people unite".

Below the Coat of Arms, the initials of the engraver: ALS (for Arthur Sutherland).

Around above, the date of issue: · [year] ·. Around left and around right, the name of the country in two of the eleven official languages of South Africa.

Obverse Inscription SOUTH AFRICA · [year] ·
Reverse
South Africa / Five Rand, Bimetallic - reverse photo

The reverse of the coin shows at centre a Black Wildebeest (also known as a Gnu), running to left.

The numeral value 5 is above, and denomination RAND is around below, both party in the central circle and partly in the outer rim.

In the lower right field, below the ground under the Wildebeest and above the D of RAND, the initials of the engraver: ALS (for Arthur L. Sutherland).

Repeated in microtext 32 times around left and 25 times around right is the abbreviation SARB, for South African Reserve Bank - the issuer of the coins.

Reverse Inscription 5 RAND
EdgeSecurity Groove with LetteringEdge InscriptionSARB R5 (repeated ten times)
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Coin Type: Five Rand, Bimetallic - (19) Coins
Coin NameMintageSymbolLegend
Five Rand 2004 31,103,178 Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga · 2004 · Ningizimu Afrika ·
Five Rand 2005 35,586,941 Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Dzonga · 2005 · South Africa ·
Five Rand 2006 14,002,594 Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa · 2006 · Aforika Borwa ·
Five Rand 2007 11,763,634 Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa · 2007 · Afrika Borwa ·
Five Rand 2008 14,092,553 Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa · 2008 · Suid-Afrika ·
Five Rand 2009 11,178,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa Suid-Afrika · 2009 · uMzantsi Afrika ·
Five Rand 2010 8,065,563 Coat of Arms of South Africa uMzantsi Afrika · 2010 · iNingizimu Afrika ·
Five Rand 2011 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika · 2011 · iSewula Afrika ·
Five Rand 2012 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika · 2012 · uMzantsi Afrika ·
Five Rand 2013 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iSewula Afrika · 2013 · iNingizimu Afrika ·
Five Rand 2014 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afurika Tshipembe · 2014 · iSewula Afrika ·
Five Rand 2015 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Ningizimu Afrika · 2015 · Afurika Tshipembe ·
Five Rand 2016 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga · 2016 · Ningizimu Afrika ·
Five Rand 2017 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa · 2017 · Afrika-Dzonga ·
Five Rand 2018 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa · 2018 · Aforika Borwa ·
Five Rand 2019 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa · 2019 · Aforika Borwa ·
Five Rand 2020 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Suid-Afrika · 2020 · Afrika Borwa ·
Five Rand 2021 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa uMzantsi Afrika · 2021 · Suid-Afrika ·
Five Rand 2022 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika · 2022 · uMzantsi Afrika ·
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Royal Mint
Royal Mint
Five Rand, Bimetallic: Details
CountrySouth Africa
CurrencyRand
Sub-type ofFive Rand
From2004
Face Value5 (x Rand)
CurrentYes
MaterialBimetallic
DesignerArthur Sutherland
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size26.0000 mm
Thickness3.0000 mm
Mass9.4000 g