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

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.

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.