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

Twenty Cents, Nickel, Coin Type from South Africa (issued 1965 - 1990)
Coin TypeTwenty Cents, Nickel

The South African Twenty Cents coin (abbreviated as 20c) is a small circulating coin of the Rand currency. It was introduced when the currency was decimalised in 1961 and replaced the earlier pre-decimal two shillings coin, retaining its design, dimensions and metal content.

The silver version of the Twenty Cents was only issued for four years though. In 1965, the Second Decimal Series was introduced, in which the Twenty 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 was changed to a smaller bronze-plated steel version with the Third Decimal Series in 1990.

Obverse
South Africa / Twenty Cents, Nickel - obverse photo

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
South Africa / Twenty Cents, Nickel - reverse photo

The reverse of the coin 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).

Reverse Inscription 20
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Advertising
Royal Mint
Royal Mint
Coin Type: Twenty Cents, Nickel - (31) Coins
Coin NameReverseObverseDetails
Twenty Cents 1965 (English) South Africa / Twenty Cents 1965 (English) - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1965 (English) - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 29,235,000
Twenty Cents 1965 (Afrikaans) South Africa / Twenty Cents 1965 (Afrikaans) - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1965 (Afrikaans) - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 29,210,000
Twenty Cents 1966 (English) South Africa / Twenty Cents 1966 (English) - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1966 (English) - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 4,049,000
Twenty Cents 1966 (Afrikaans) South Africa / Twenty Cents 1966 (Afrikaans) - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1966 (Afrikaans) - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 4,074,000
Twenty Cents 1967 (English) South Africa / Twenty Cents 1967 (English) - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1967 (English) - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 58,000
Twenty Cents 1967 (Afrikaans) South Africa / Twenty Cents 1967 (Afrikaans) - reverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 83,000
Twenty Cents 1968 Swart (English) South Africa / Twenty Cents 1968 Swart (English) - reverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 75,000
Twenty Cents 1968 Swart (Afrikaans) South Africa / Twenty Cents 1968 Swart (Afrikaans) - reverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 75,000
Twenty Cents 1969 (English) South Africa / Twenty Cents 1969 (English) - reverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 9,952
Twenty Cents 1969 (Afrikaans) South Africa / Twenty Cents 1969 (Afrikaans) - reverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 21,952
Twenty Cents 1970 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1970 - reverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 24,000
Twenty Cents 1971 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1971 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1971 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 5,905,000
Twenty Cents 1972 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1972 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1972 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 9,079,000
Twenty Cents 1973 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1973 - reverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 31,000
Twenty Cents 1974 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1974 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1974 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 2,451,000
Twenty Cents 1975 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1975 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1975 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 13,000,000
Twenty Cents 1976 Fouché South Africa / Twenty Cents 1976 Fouché - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1976 Fouché - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 18,847,000
Twenty Cents 1977 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1977 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1977 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 30,669,000
Twenty Cents 1978 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1978 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1978 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 10,068,000
Twenty Cents 1979 Diederichs South Africa / Twenty Cents 1979 Diederichs - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1979 Diederichs - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 5,047,000
Twenty Cents 1980 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1980 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1980 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 13,350,000
Twenty Cents 1981 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1981 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1981 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 8,544,000
Twenty Cents 1982 Vorster South Africa / Twenty Cents 1982 Vorster - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1982 Vorster - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 18,095,000
Twenty Cents 1983 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1983 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1983 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 25,681,000
Twenty Cents 1984 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1984 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1984 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 31,618,000
Twenty Cents 1985 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1985 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1985 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 29,338,859
Twenty Cents 1986 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1986 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1986 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 11,415,100
Twenty Cents 1987 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1987 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1987 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 36,910,781
Twenty Cents 1988 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1988 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1988 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 43,122,250
Twenty Cents 1989 South Africa / Twenty Cents 1989 - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1989 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: unknown
Twenty Cents 1990 (Nickel) South Africa / Twenty Cents 1990 (Nickel) - reverse photo South Africa / Twenty Cents 1990 (Nickel) - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: South African Mint
Mintage: 98,512,000
Advertising
Buy Silver and Gold Bullion Online!
Buy Silver and Gold Bullion Online!
Twenty Cents, Nickel: Details
CountrySouth Africa
CurrencyRand
Sub-type ofTwenty Cents
From1965
To1990
Face Value20 (x Rand)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 1991
MaterialNickel
DesignerTommy Sasseen
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size24.2000 mm
Thickness1.8400 mm
Mass6.0000 g