One Rand, Nickel, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information

One Rand, Nickel, Coin Type from South Africa (issued 1977 - 1990)
Coin TypeOne Rand, Nickel

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 One Rand coin (abbreviated as R1) was initially a gold bullion coin, but this was soon changed to silver. This was then changed again to nickel in 1977, with silver only used for commemorative and collector issues.

These nickel coins were issued until 1990, after which time the denomination was made much smaller with the Third Decimal Series.

Obverse

The obverse of the coin displays the Coat of Arms of South Africa at its centre, as granted to the Union of South Africa by King George V and later amended by the British College of Arms. It contains representation of the four provinces within the Union.

The Coat of Arms features a shield quartered, each quarter a symbol of one of the four provinces of South Africa. An ox wagon represents Transvaal Province, a woman with an anchor represents Cape Province, two wildebeests represent Natal Province and an orange tree represents the Orange Free State Province. The crest of the arms features a lion holding four bound sticks. The supporters are a springbok and a gemsbok. Below the arms, the Latin motto, EX UNITATE VIRES (translated at first as "Union Is Strength", but from 1961 translated as "Unity Is Strength").

Around left, the name of the country in Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKA; around right, the name in English: SOUTH AFRICA.

Below, the date of issue: * [year] *.

Obverse Inscription SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA * [year] *
Reverse

The reverse shows a Springbok antelope, jumping to the right.

Below that, the value and denomination 1 RAND.

Above the Springbok and to the left, the motto SOLI DEO GLORIA (translated from Latin: Glory to God alone).

Below left, the artist's initials J. v. Z. (for Jan van Zyl).

Reverse Inscription 1 RAND SOLI DEO GLORIA
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
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Royal Mint
Coin Type: One Rand, Nickel - (14) Coins
Coin NameReverseObverseDetails
One Rand 1977 South Africa / One Rand 1977 - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1977 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 29,871,010
One Rand 1978 South Africa / One Rand 1978 - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1978 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 12,021,010
One Rand 1979 Diederichs South Africa / One Rand 1979 Diederichs - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1979 Diederichs - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 13,466,005
One Rand 1980 South Africa / One Rand 1980 - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1980 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 2,690,000
One Rand 1981 South Africa / One Rand 1981 - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1981 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 2,035,000
One Rand 1982 Vorster South Africa / One Rand 1982 Vorster - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1982 Vorster - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 7,685,015
One Rand 1983 South Africa / One Rand 1983 - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1983 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 7,182,010
One Rand 1984 South Africa / One Rand 1984 - reverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 5,747,000
One Rand 1985 Viljoen South Africa / One Rand 1985 Viljoen - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1985 Viljoen - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 3,992,859
One Rand 1986 South Africa / One Rand 1986 - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1986 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 1,577,000
One Rand 1987 South Africa / One Rand 1987 - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1987 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 12,158,781
One Rand 1988 South Africa / One Rand 1988 - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1988 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 21,342,250
One Rand 1989 South Africa / One Rand 1989 - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1989 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: unknown
One Rand 1990 Botha (Nickel) South Africa / One Rand 1990 Botha (Nickel) - reverse photo South Africa / One Rand 1990 Botha (Nickel) - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 25,338,000
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One Rand, Nickel: Details
CountrySouth Africa
CurrencyRand
Sub-type ofOne Rand
From1977
To1990
Face Value1 (x Rand)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 1991
MaterialNickel
DesignerJan van Zyl
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size31.0000 mm
Thickness2.2000 mm
Mass12.0000 g