One Cent, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information

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] *.

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.