| Coin | Five Rand 2015 Griqua Town |
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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. The largest circulating coin at the time was fifty cents; gradually, new coins were introduced to replace banknotes, with the highest circulating denomination now being Five Rand (abbreviated as R5). The Five Rand coin is bimetallic, with a brass centre and a copper-nickel outer ring. The edge has a "security groove" and lettering repeated ten times around the coin: SARB R5 (SARB for the South African Reserve Bank, which is the issuer of the coin, and R5 as abbreviation of the value).
From time to time, the South African Mint issues commemorative designs in the denomination, to mark special occasions.
This coin was issued as part of the circulation and numismatics range to commemorate two hundred years of the Griqua Town coinage. The Griqua coin was originally created as currency for the people of Griqua Town in 1815, and is the first local currency of a South African people.
The coins of the range consist of a circulating commemorative R 5 piece, two silver crowns: one depicting the upper part of the Griqua coin and one depicting its lower part, and a quarter-ounce gold commemorative. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse shows the Coat of Arms of South Africa in the central (brass) circle; below that and to the left, in small letters the designer's initials ALS (for Arthur L. Sutherland).
In the outer ring of the coin, the legend SOUTH AFRICA is below and the date of issue 2015 is above.
The abbreviation SARB (for South African Reserve Bank, the issuer of the coin) is repeated 33 times around left and 33 times around right as an ornament in microtext. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin bears a rendition of the two sides of the original five pence 1815 Griqua coin, slightly overlapped: in the foreground, the reverse with the text GRIQUA around above and a Roman numeral I I I I I for the value (five pence); in the background, a dove flying with an olive branch in its beak - a symbol of the London Missionary Society which established the town. Around left in the inner circle, the years of the anniversary: 200.
Around left in the outer ring, COINAGE OF GRIQUA TOWN. Around right, separated by the value, the anniversary dates 1815 and 2015.
The value and denomination R5 (Five Rand) are in the right, partly in the central circle and partly in the outer ring.
The reverse was designed by RC Stone and engraved by Paul Botes. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
COINAGE OF GRIQUA TOWN 1815 2015 R5 |
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| Edge | Security Groove with Lettering | Edge Inscription | SARB R5 (repeated ten times) |
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| Included in Set |
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Griqua Town Prestige Set 2015, mintage unknown, limited to 200
5 coins: 1/4 oz Gold, Silver Crown - Upper Half, Silver Crown - Lower Half, R5 Proof, R5 Brilliant Uncirculated
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Griqua Town Gold Set 2015, mintage unknown, limited to 200
3 coins: 1/4 oz Gold, R5 Proof, R5 Brilliant Uncirculated
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Griqua Town Silver Set 2015, mintage unknown, limited to 1,815
4 coins: Silver Crown - Upper Half, Silver Crown - Lower Half, R5 Proof, R5 Brilliant Uncirculated
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