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

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

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 at that time 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 denomination was changed to a smaller bronze-plated steel version with the Third Decimal Series in 1990. It received a new reverse design with the Fourth Decimal Series in 2023, and had its weight changed from 3.5 to 3 grams.

The 1990 reverse features the remarkable South African flower, the Protea cynaroids - one of the first distinctive South African symbols that appeared on the tickey and sixpence coins from 1925 to 1960. With the introduction of South Africa’s first decimal series (1961-1964) the Protea was again depicted on the 2½c and 5c coins which were designed by George Kruger Gray. With the second decimal coin series (1965-1989), an outstanding South African horticultural artist, Cynthna Letty was responsible for the artwork. The new Protea design depicted the Protea plant with three flowers in various stages on the nickel 20c coin. Die-sinker Tommy Sasseen modelled the design from the original watercolour painting which can be viewed at the South African Mint museum. In 1989 the third decimal coin series was introduced and the Protea was selected for the new bronze plated 20c coin. Die-sinker, Susan Erasmus developed the design from the first artwork. In 1996, the design underwent a slight modification to accommodate a larger “20c” numeral on the coin. The 2023 design features the bitter aloe, a tall and single-stemmed plant that can reach a height of up to three metres; it has thick and fleshy leaves that are arranged in rosettes and adorned with reddish-brown spines on the margins, along with smaller spines on the upper and lower surfaces.

The obverse displays the Coat of Arms of South Africa at its centre. This was the old (1910) Coat of Arms until 2000, then was updated to the current symbol. The legend was initially bilingual, then one language only, then bilingual again. An annual rotation of the language of the legend was instituted after 2001, with one of the eleven official languages of the country taking precedence in successive years.

Obverse
South Africa / Twenty Cents, Steel - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin displays the Coat of Arms of South Africa at its centre; this is the 1910 Coat of Arms until 2000, then the new one.

Around left and around right, the name of the country in one or two of the country's eleven official languages.

Below (until 2000) or above (2000 and after), the date of issue: [year].

Obverse Inscription SOUTH AFRICA [year]
Reverse
South Africa / Twenty Cents, Steel - reverse photo

From 1990 to 2022:
Within a nine-sided rim, the reverse of the coin depicts a Royal Protea (Protea cynaroids), South Africa's national flower, with sprigs. Above right, the value and abbreviated denomination 20 c (Twenty Cents). Below right, the initials of the designer SE (for Susan Erasmus).

From 2023:
Within a seven-sided rim, the reverse of the coin depicts the bitter aloe (Aloe ferox) - a plant indigenous to Southern Africa and "known for its fierce presence" and medicinal qualities. Below the plant, the denomination numeral 20 c (Twenty Cents). Above the letter c, the initials of the designer, CM (for C Moses).

Reverse Inscription 20 c
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
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Coin Type: Twenty Cents, Steel - (35) Coins
Coin NameMintageSymbolLegend
Twenty Cents 1990 (Steel) 44,938 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1990
Twenty Cents 1991 53,600 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1991
Twenty Cents 1992 21,025,350 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1990
Twenty Cents 1993 134,018,692 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1993
Twenty Cents 1994 145,012,590 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1995
Twenty Cents 1995 108,014,293 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA 1995
Twenty Cents 1996 91,016,503 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFERIKA BORWA 1996
Twenty Cents 1997 116,011,111 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFERIKA BORWA 1997
Twenty Cents 1998 25,007,538 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFERIKA BORWA 1998
Twenty Cents 1999 16,009,299 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFERIKA BORWA 1999
Twenty Cents 2000 (Old CoA) 22,011,470 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFERIKA BORWA 2000
Twenty Cents 2000 (New CoA) 22,000,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa AFERIKA BORWA 2000
Twenty Cents 2001 21,003,678 Coat of Arms of South Africa AFERIKA BORWA 2001
Twenty Cents 2002 42,003,250 Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2002
Twenty Cents 2003 56,002,909 Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2003
Twenty Cents 2004 113,031,935 Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa 2004
Twenty Cents 2005 57,681,944 Coat of Arms of South Africa Suid-Afrika 2005
Twenty Cents 2006 38,081,637 Coat of Arms of South Africa uMzantsi Afrika 2006
Twenty Cents 2007 139,359,280 Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika 2007
Twenty Cents 2008 251,482,563 Coat of Arms of South Africa iSewula Afrika 2008
Twenty Cents 2009 65,240,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa Afurika Tshipembe 2009
Twenty Cents 2010 125,160,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa Ningizimu Afrika 2010
Twenty Cents 2011 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga 2011
Twenty Cents 2012 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afurika Tshipembe 2012
Twenty Cents 2013 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Ningizimu Afrika 2013
Twenty Cents 2014 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga 2014
Twenty Cents 2015 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2015
Twenty Cents 2016 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2016
Twenty Cents 2017 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa 2017
Twenty Cents 2018 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Suid-Afrika 2018
Twenty Cents 2019 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa uMzantsi Afrika 2019
Twenty Cents 2020 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika 2020
Twenty Cents 2021 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iSewula Afrika 2021
Twenty Cents 2022 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afurika Tshipembe 2022
Twenty Cents 2023 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa SOUTH AFRICA 2023 SUID-AFRIKA
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Royal Mint
Royal Mint
Twenty Cents, Steel: Details
CountrySouth Africa
CurrencyRand
Sub-type ofTwenty Cents
From1990
Face Value20 (x Cent)
CurrentYes
MaterialBronze-plated Steel
Designer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size19.0000 mm
Mass3.0000 g