One Cent, Bronze, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information

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; it was replaced by this smaller bronze type in 1965. The first kind of bronze coins had a portrait of Jan van Riebeeck on the obverse and a legend in one language only; each year, two versions of the coin were issued - one in English and one in Afrikaans; this was also the case with the commemorative issue in 1968. In 1970, the obverse was changed to the Coat of Arms of South Africa with a bilingual legend.

Between 1970 and 1983, the designer's initials below the Coat of Arms were T.S. for Tommy Sasseen; the obverse was then re-engraved and between 1985 and 1989 the signature was A.L.S. for Arthur Sutherland (no signature at all in 1984).

This format of the one cent coin denomination was issued until 1989; after that, an even smaller copper-plated steel version was introduced in 1990 and issued until 2001, after which time the denomination was discontinued.

The coins have not been demonetised and are still legal tender throughout the Common Monetary Area, although in practice they do not circulate due to their low value.