Ten Cents, Nickel, Coin Type from South Africa

Ten Cents, Nickel, Coin Type from South Africa (issued 1965 - 1989)

Coin Type	Ten Cents, Nickel

The South African Ten Cents coin (abbreviated as 10c) is currently the smallest circulating coin of the Rand currency - after the 5c denomination was withdrawn in 2012. It was introduced when the currency was decimalised in 1961 and replaced the earlier pre-decimal shilling, retaining its reverse design, dimensions and metal content.

The silver version of the Ten Cents was only issued for four years though; in 1965, the Second Decimal Series was introduced, in which the Ten Cents denomination was made of nickel.

The obverse showed a portrait of Jan van Riebeeck until 1969, with the legend in one language only - either English or Afrikaans, with both versions issued every year. It was then changed to have the Coat of Arms of South Africa, with a bilingual legend. The obverse was re-engraved in 1984, so carries a new engraver's signature after that. Apart from the regular designs, there were also four commemorative issues with different obverses.

The denomination changed to a smaller bronze-plated steel version in 1990.

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

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

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

Reverse

The reverse depicts an aloe plant (Aloe succotrina, or Fynbos aloe). Above, the numeral value 10 (Ten Cents).

At the base of the plant on the left side, the initials of the designer T.S. (for Tommy Sasseen).

Reverse Inscription	10

Edge	Plain	Edge Inscription	None

Coin Type: Ten Cents, Nickel - (30) Coins

Coin Name	Mintage	Symbol	Legend
Ten Cents 1965 (English)	29,210,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SOUTH AFRICA 1965
Ten Cents 1965 (Afrikaans)	29,235,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SUID-AFRIKA 1965
Ten Cents 1966 (English)	3,710,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SOUTH AFRICA 1966
Ten Cents 1966 (Afrikaans)	3,685,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SUID-AFRIKA 1966
Ten Cents 1967 (English)	75,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SOUTH AFRICA 1967
Ten Cents 1967 (Afrikaans)	50,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SUID-AFRIKA 1967
Ten Cents 1968 Swart (English)	50,000		SOUTH AFRICA 1968
Ten Cents 1968 Swart (Afrikaans)	75,000		SUID-AFRIKA 1968
Ten Cents 1969 (English)	570,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SOUTH AFRICA 1969
Ten Cents 1969 (Afrikaans)	558,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SUID-AFRIKA 1969
Ten Cents 1970	7,608,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1970 *
Ten Cents 1971	6,452,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1971 *
Ten Cents 1972	10,038,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1972 *
Ten Cents 1973	1,771,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1973 *
Ten Cents 1974	9,912,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1974 *
Ten Cents 1975	13,000,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1975 *
Ten Cents 1976 Fouché	31,007,000		SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1976 *
Ten Cents 1977	28,870,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1977 *
Ten Cents 1978	25,027,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1978 *
Ten Cents 1979 Diederichs	5,059,000		SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1979 *
Ten Cents 1980	5,055,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1980 *
Ten Cents 1981	9,614,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1981 *
Ten Cents 1982 Vorster	15,818,000		SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1982 *
Ten Cents 1983	26,509,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1983 *
Ten Cents 1984	35,476,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1984 *
Ten Cents 1985	29,279,859	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1985 *
Ten Cents 1986	24,487,100	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1986 *
Ten Cents 1987	43,240,781	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1987 *
Ten Cents 1988	48,274,250	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1988 *
Ten Cents 1989	unknown	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1989 *

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Ten Cents, Nickel: Details

Country	South Africa
Currency	Rand
Sub-type of	Ten Cents
From	1965
To	1989
Face Value	10 (x Cent)
Current	No; withdrawn 1990
Material	Nickel
Designer	Tommy Sasseen
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size	20.7000 mm
Thickness	1.7000 mm
Mass	4.0000 g

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Ten Cents, Nickel, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information