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

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).

These 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. This was the old (1910) Coat of Arms until 2000, then was updated to the current symbol. The legend is bilingual (except between 1996 and 2001), with an annual rotation of the languages instituted after 2001

In 2004, the denomination changed to a larger bi-metallic coin, retaining the same design with some modifications; the earlier coins were not demonetised and are still legal tender.