Two Rand, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information

Two Rand, Coin Type from South Africa (issued 1989 - )
Coin TypeTwo Rand

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. At that time, the Two Rand (abbreviated as R2) was a gold bullion coin equal to the earlier gold pound, which was itself equal to a British sovereign. These were not regular circulating coins though, and were discontinued after 1983, while the denomination was served by a banknote in everyday life.

With the Third Decimal Series, the current format of the Two Rand circulating coin was introduced in 1989 - as a small nickel-clad copper coin similar in appearance to the new small One Rand.

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 is bilingual (except between 1996 and 2001, and on some commemoratives), with an annual rotation of the languages instituted after 2001. The regular reverse shows a Greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) - a native animal of South Africa. Occasionally, circulating commemorative R2 coins are also issued, with different reverses.

Obverse
South Africa / Two Rand - obverse photo

Within a recessed square with rounded corners, 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").

Below the Coat of Arms, on the left side, the initials of the engraver: ALS (for Arthur Sutherland).

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 [year] SOUTH AFRICA
Reverse
South Africa / Two Rand - reverse photo

Within a recessed square with rounded corners, the reverse shows a Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), known as the “King of the Antelope” because of its magnificent horns.

Above right, the value and denomination 2 RAND.

In the lower right, the initials of the engraver: ALS (for Arthur Sutherland).
Reverse Inscription 2 RAND
EdgeMilled interrupted, in five sectionsEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Note that some Crown-sized (one-ounce silver) bullion coins are also denominated with R2 face value.

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Coin Type: Two Rand - (43) Coins
Coin NameMintageSymbolLegend
Two Rand 1989 65,246,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA 1989 SOUTH AFRICA
Two Rand 1990 70,677,230 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA 1990 SOUTH AFRICA
Two Rand 1991 39,270,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA 1991 SOUTH AFRICA
Two Rand 1992 2,140,087 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA 1992 SOUTH AFRICA
Two Rand 1993 110,692 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA 1993 SOUTH AFRICA
Two Rand 1994 1,006,590 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA 1994 SOUTH AFRICA
Two Rand 1995 13,227,293 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA 1995 SOUTH AFRICA
Two Rand 1996 139,503 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 UMZANTSI AFRIKA 1996
Two Rand 1997 1,815,111 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 UMZANTSI AFRIKA 1997
Two Rand 1998 7,387,538 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 UMZANTSI AFRIKA 1998
Two Rand 1999 4,809,299 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 UMZANTSI AFRIKA 1999
Two Rand 2000 (Old CoA) 19,011,470 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 UMZANTSI AFRIKA 2000
Two Rand 2000 (New CoA) 19,000,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa UMZANTSI AFRIKA 2000
Two Rand 2001 3,603,678 Coat of Arms of South Africa UMZANTSI AFRIKA 2001
Two Rand 2002 12,003,250 Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika 2002 uMzantsi Afrika
Two Rand 2003 5,002,909 Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika 2003 iSewula Afrika
Two Rand 2004 Ten Years of Freedom unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa SOUTH AFRICA 2004
Two Rand 2004 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afurika Tshipembe 2004 iSewula Afrika
Two Rand 2005 13,501,944 Coat of Arms of South Africa Ningizimu Afrika 2005 Afurika Tshipembe
Two Rand 2006 5,041,637 Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga 2006 Ningizimu Afrika
Two Rand 2007 32,581,280 Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2007 Afrika-Dzonga
Two Rand 2008 48,061,563 Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2008 South Africa
Two Rand 2009 12,600,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa 2009 Aforika Borwa
Two Rand 2010 29,000,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa Suid-Afrika 2010 Afrika Borwa
Two Rand 2011 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa uMzantsi Afrika 2011 Suid-Afrika
Two Rand 2012 29,000,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa Suid-Afrika 2012 Afrika Borwa
Two Rand 2013 Union Buildings unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa uMzantsi Afrika 2013 Suid-Afrika
Two Rand 2013 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa uMzantsi Afrika 2013 Suid-Afrika
Two Rand 2014 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika 2014 uMzantsi Afrika
Two Rand 2014 Union Buildings unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika 2014 uMzantsi Afrika
Two Rand 2015 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iSewula Afrika 2015 iNingizimu Afrika
Two Rand 2016 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afurika Tshipembe 2016 iSewula Afrika
Two Rand 2017 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Ningizimu Afrika 2017 Afurika Tshipembe
Two Rand 2018 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga 2018 Ningizimu Afrika
Two Rand 2019 Children’s Rights unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2019 Afrika-Dzonga
Two Rand 2019 Right to Education unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2019 Afrika-Dzonga
Two Rand 2019 Environmental Rights unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2019 Afrika-Dzonga
Two Rand 2019 Freedom of Movement and Residence unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2019 Afrika-Dzonga
Two Rand 2019 Freedom of Religion, Belief and Opinion unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2019 Afrika-Dzonga
Two Rand 2019 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2019 Afrika-Dzonga
Two Rand 2020 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2020 South Africa
Two Rand 2021 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa 2021 Aforika Borwa
Two Rand 2022 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Suid-Afrika 2012 Afrika Borwa
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Royal Mint
Royal Mint
Two Rand: Details
CountrySouth Africa
CurrencyRand
Sub-types Two Rand, Commemorative
From1989
Face Value2 (x Rand)
CurrentYes
MaterialNickel-plated copper
DesignerArthur Sutherland
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size23.0000 mm
Thickness1.7500 mm
Mass5.5000 g
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