Twenty Cents, 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 - 1989) 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 left, the name of the country in Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKA; around left, the name in English: SOUTH AFRICA.

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

With the introduction of the steel version in 1990, the design of the Coat of Arms was slightly revised and the order of the legends was reversed. In 1996, the legend was changed to one language only: AFORIKA BORWA in Tswana.

In 2000, the obverse was updated to the new Coat of Arms of the country, and an annual rotation of the language of the legend was introduced.

The first reverse design (1961 - 1964) continues the original reverse of the two shillings coin and shows at its centre the shield of the Coat of Arms of South Africa, without the crest and supporters. The shield is quartered, and each quarter is a symbol of one of the four provinces of South Africa at the time the shield was granted by King George V in 1910. 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.

Below the shield, divided by its tip, the designer's initials KG (for George Kruger Gray).

Above, the date of issue: + [year] +.

Around left and around right, respectively the legend SOUTH AFRICA in English and SUID-AFRIKA in Afrikaans.

Around below, flanked by two rosettes, the value and denomination * 20 c. * (Twenty Cents).

The second reverse (1965 - 1989) depicts a Royal Protea, South Africa's national flower, with sprigs. To the left, the numeral value 20 (Twenty Cents).

Below right, the initials of the designer T.S. (for Tommy Sasseen).

The third reverse (1990 - present) bears a similar design, but the value and denomination are on the right.

Note that there are also some one-ounce silver bullion coins denominated as 20 cents in face value.