Two Rand, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information

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].

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).

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