Fifty Cents 1990 (Nickel), Coin from South Africa - detailed information

Fifty Cents 1990 (Nickel), Coin from South Africa (withdrawn 1991)
CoinFifty Cents 1990 (Nickel)

The South African Fifty Cents coin (abbreviated as 50c) 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 five shillings coin, retaining its design, dimensions and metal content; the coin is thus directly descended from (and initially compatible with) the British silver Crown denomination.

The silver version of the Fifty Cents was only issued for four years though. In 1965, the Second Decimal Series was introduced, in which the Fifty 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. Thus, 50c coins issued in 1990 circulated for only one year until they were replaced with the steel version.

MintSouth African Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 29,442,000 (29.4 million)
Obverse

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 English: SOUTH AFRICA; around right, the name in Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKA.

Below, the date of issue: * 1990 *.

Below the Coat of Arms on the left side, in small letters the initials of the designer ALS (for Arthur Sutherland).

Obverse Inscription SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1990 *
Reverse
South Africa / Fifty Cents 1990 (Nickel) - reverse photo

The reverse of the coin depicts three flowers native to South Africa: an Arum Lily, an African Lily and a "Bird of Paradise" (Strelitzia). Representing the national flag, this flower design was modelled by Tommy Sasseen from a drawing by Cynthna Letty.

To the right, the numeral value 50 (Fifty Cents).

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

Reverse Inscription 50
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
All (72) coins of type: Fifty Cents
Coin NameMintageSymbolLegend
Fifty Cents 1961 54,530 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) EENDRAG MAAK MAG * UNITY IS STRENGTH *
Fifty Cents 1962 24,868 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) EENDRAG MAAK MAG * UNITY IS STRENGTH *
Fifty Cents 1963 157,025 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) EENDRAG MAAK MAG * UNITY IS STRENGTH *
Fifty Cents 1964 127,000 Jan van Riebeeck (facing) EENDRAG MAAK MAG * UNITY IS STRENGTH *
Fifty Cents 1965 (English) unknown Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1965
Fifty Cents 1965 (Afrikaans) 53,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1965
Fifty Cents 1966 (English) 8,081,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1966
Fifty Cents 1966 (Afrikaans) 8,056,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1966
Fifty Cents 1967 (English) 77,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1967
Fifty Cents 1967 (Afrikaans) 52,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1967
Fifty Cents 1968 Swart (English) 750,000 SOUTH AFRICA 1968
Fifty Cents 1968 Swart (Afrikaans) 775,000 SUID-AFRIKA 1968
Fifty Cents 1969 (English) 19,968 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1969
Fifty Cents 1969 (Afrikaans) 7,968 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1969
Fifty Cents 1970 4,108,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1970 *
Fifty Cents 1971 5,074,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1971 *
Fifty Cents 1972 781,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1972 *
Fifty Cents 1973 1,054,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1973 *
Fifty Cents 1974 1,957,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1974 *
Fifty Cents 1975 4,906,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1975 *
Fifty Cents 1976 Fouché 9,653,000 SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1976 *
Fifty Cents 1977 10,215,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1977 *
Fifty Cents 1978 5,088,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1978 *
Fifty Cents 1979 Diederichs 5,066,000 SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1979 *
Fifty Cents 1980 4,283,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1980 *
Fifty Cents 1981 5,691,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1981 *
Fifty Cents 1982 Vorster 2,082,000 SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1982 *
Fifty Cents 1983 5,164,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1983 *
Fifty Cents 1984 9,698,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1984 *
Fifty Cents 1985 13,348,859 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1985 *
Fifty Cents 1986 2,301,100 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1986 *
Fifty Cents 1987 19,077,781 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1987 *
Fifty Cents 1988 27,705,250 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1988 *
Fifty Cents 1989 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1989 *
Fifty Cents 1990 (Nickel) 29,442,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1990 *
Fifty Cents 1990 (Steel) unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1990
Fifty Cents 1991 24,015,200 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1991
Fifty Cents 1992 18,015,050 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1992
Fifty Cents 1993 65,010,892 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1993
Fifty Cents 1994 12,006,690 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1994
Fifty Cents 1995 58,008,393 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1995
Fifty Cents 1996 41,016,503 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA BORWA 1996
Fifty Cents 1997 38,011,111 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA BORWA 1997
Fifty Cents 1998 1,159,538 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA BORWA 1998
Fifty Cents 1999 1,161,299 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA BORWA 1999
Fifty Cents 2000 (Old CoA) 1,163,470 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFRIKA BORWA 2000
Fifty Cents 2000 (New CoA) 1,152,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa AFRIKA BORWA 2000
Fifty Cents 2001 1,155,678 Coat of Arms of South Africa AFRIKA BORWA 2001
Fifty Cents 2002 16,003,250 Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2002
Fifty Cents 2002 Football 16,000,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2002
Fifty Cents 2002 Cricket unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2002
Fifty Cents 2003 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa 2003
Fifty Cents 2003 Cricket unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa 2003
Fifty Cents 2004 43,925,935 Coat of Arms of South Africa Suid-Afrika 2004
Fifty Cents 2005 26,609,944 Coat of Arms of South Africa uMzantsi Afrika 2005
Fifty Cents 2006 40,129,637 Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika 2006
Fifty Cents 2007 63,553,280 Coat of Arms of South Africa iSewula Afrika 2007
Fifty Cents 2008 141,313,563 Coat of Arms of South Africa Afurika Tshipembe 2008
Fifty Cents 2009 7,680,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa Ningizimu Afrika 2009
Fifty Cents 2010 55,104,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga 2010
Fifty Cents 2011 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2011
Fifty Cents 2012 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga 2012 Ningizimu Afrika
Fifty Cents 2013 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa South Africa 2013 Afrika-Dzonga
Fifty Cents 2014 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Aforika Borwa 2014 South Africa
Fifty Cents 2015 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika Borwa 2015 Aforika Borwa
Fifty Cents 2016 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Suid-Afrika 2016 Afrika Borwa
Fifty Cents 2017 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa uMzantsi Afrika 2017 Suid-Afrika
Fifty Cents 2018 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iNingizimu Afrika 2018 uMzantsi Afrika
Fifty Cents 2019 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa iSewula Afrika 2019 iNingizimu Afrika
Fifty Cents 2020 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afurika Tshipembe 2020 iSewula Afrika
Fifty Cents 2021 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Ningizimu Afrika 2021 Afurika Tshipembe
Fifty Cents 2022 unknown Coat of Arms of South Africa Afrika-Dzonga 2022 Ningizimu Afrika
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Fifty Cents 1990 (Nickel): Details
CountrySouth Africa
CurrencyRand
Coin TypeFifty Cents, Nickel
Issued1990
SymbolCoat of Arms of South Africa, 1910
Face Value50 (x Cent)
Circulation Mintage29,442,000 (29.4 million)
Total Mintage29,442,000 (29.4 million)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 1991
MaterialNickel
DesignerTommy Sasseen, Arthur Sutherland
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size27.8500 mm
Thickness2.2000 mm
Mass9.5000 g
OCC IDLBRP-ORRC-PQAZ-OMNY
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Fifty Cents 1990 (Nickel): Catalogue Reference IDs