One Cent, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information

One Cent, Coin Type from South Africa (issued 1961 - 2001)
Coin TypeOne Cent

The South African One Cent coin (abbreviated as 1c) was the second smallest circulating coin of the Rand currency, which 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 one cent approximately replaced the earlier penny coin, which was the most popular denomination of the South African Pound.

The first type of One Cent coins was made of brass and was only issued between 1961 and 1964. This was changed to a smaller bronze type in 1965, then an even smaller copper-plated steel version issued until 2001, after which time the denomination was discontinued.

Apart from the regular designs, there were also three 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 / One Cent - 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 right, the name of the country in English: SOUTH AFRICA; around left, the name in Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKA.

Below, the date of issue: * [year] *.
Obverse Inscription SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * [year] *
Reverse
South Africa / One Cent - reverse photo

The first reverse, used between 1961 and 1964, shows at its centre a covered wagon as used by the Voortrekkers (Boer pioneers) as they performed their Great Trek in 1836. On the ground below right, in small letters the initials of the reverse designer HM (for Hilda Mason).

Around left, the name of the country in English: SOUTH AFRICA; around right, the name in Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKA. Above that, the date · [year] ·.

Below, flanked by two rosettes, the value and denomination * 1 c. * (one cent).

The second reverse design (1965 - 1989) mirrors the reverse of the bronze half cent coin and features two Cape sparrows (Passer melanurus) on a branch. Below the bird on the right, in small letters the initials of the designer TS (for Tommy Sasseen).

Above, the numeral value 1 (one cent).

The last revision was in 1990 when the design, still featuring two sparrows, was simplified.
Reverse Inscription 1 c.
EdgeEdge InscriptionNone
Coin Type: One Cent - (47) Coins
Coin NameMintageSymbolLegend
One Cent 1961 52,273,530 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) UNITY IS STRENGTH * EENDRAG MAAK MAG *
One Cent 1962 21,932,844 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) UNITY IS STRENGTH * EENDRAG MAAK MAG *
One Cent 1963 9,085,025 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) UNITY IS STRENGTH * EENDRAG MAAK MAG *
One Cent 1964 14,281,000 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) UNITY IS STRENGTH * EENDRAG MAAK MAG *
One Cent 1965 (English) 51,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1965
One Cent 1965 (Afrikaans) 1,031 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1965
One Cent 1966 (English) 50,157,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1966
One Cent 1966 (Afrikaans) 50,182,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1966
One Cent 1967 (English) 21,114,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1967
One Cent 1967 (Afrikaans) 21,139,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1967
One Cent 1968 Swart (English) 6,025,000 SOUTH AFRICA 1968
One Cent 1968 Swart (Afrikaans) 6,000,000 SUID-AFRIKA 1968
One Cent 1969 (English) 10,196,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1969
One Cent 1969 (Afrikaans) 10,208,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1969
One Cent 1970 37,082,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1970 *
One Cent 1971 34,065,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1971 *
One Cent 1972 35,672,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1972 *
One Cent 1973 35,909,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1973 *
One Cent 1974 54,955,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1974 *
One Cent 1975 63,000,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1975 *
One Cent 1976 Fouché 91,881,000 SUID-AFRIKA SOUTH AFRICA * 1976 *
One Cent 1977 72,463,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1977 *
One Cent 1978 70,169,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1978 *
One Cent 1979 Diederichs 63,447,000 SUID-AFRIKA SOUTH AFRICA * 1979 *
One Cent 1980 63,447,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1980 *
One Cent 1981 63,454,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1981 *
One Cent 1982 Vorster 145,966,000 SUID-AFRIKA SOUTH AFRICA * 1982 *
One Cent 1983 182,145,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1983 *
One Cent 1984 107,166,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1984 *
One Cent 1985 186,051,859 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1985 *
One Cent 1986 169,741,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1986 *
One Cent 1987 120,680,781 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1987 *
One Cent 1988 240,279,250 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1988 *
One Cent 1989 337,812,721 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * 1989 *
One Cent 1990 149,022,460 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1990
One Cent 1991 379,026,800 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1991
One Cent 1992 213,025,347 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1992
One Cent 1993 178,018,692 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1993
One Cent 1994 239,006,586 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1994
One Cent 1995 257,014,293 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1995
One Cent 1996 255,016,503 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 ININGIZIMU AFRIKA 1996
One Cent 1997 428,011,111 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 ISEWULA AFRIKA 1997
One Cent 1998 548,007,538 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 ISEWULA AFRIKA 1998
One Cent 1999 370,009,299 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 ISEWULA AFRIKA 1999
One Cent 2000 (Old CoA) 587,011,470 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 ISEWULA AFRIKA 2000
One Cent 2000 (New CoA) 587,000,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa ISEWULA AFRIKA 2001
One Cent 2001 604,003,678 Coat of Arms of South Africa ISEWULA AFRIKA 2001
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Royal Mint
Royal Mint
One Cent: Details
CountrySouth Africa
CurrencyRand
Sub-types One Cent, Brass
One Cent, Bronze
One Cent, Steel
From1961
To2001
Face Value1 (x Cent)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 2003
Material
Designer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size
Mass
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