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The South African Mint is one of the pioneers of modern bullion coinage. It started issuing its traditional gold Krugerrand in 1967, and has subsequently expanded its offering both in terms of sizes and metals, and in designs. The Big Five series started in 2019 with an Elephant design, with a new design issued every six months. The series started its second iteration with the Elephant again, in 2021. The “Big Five” term originated when big game hunters visited the shores of Africa to shoot for trophies, and locals warned them about the five most dangerous animals in Africa: the Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Rhino, and Buffalo. This is the fourth gold kilogram coin issued by the South African Mint, and is part of the Big Five II series (second iteration of the Big Five range) featuring large African animals. It is dedicated to the Leopard. The “Big Five” term originated when big game hunters visited the shores of Africa to shoot for trophies, and locals warned them about the five most dangerous animals in Africa: the Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Rhino, and Buffalo. Leopards are the most mysterious and subtle of all the big cats, and their strength enables them to easily drag the body of a large kill onto a tree to protect the carcass from scavengers like hyenas. Their diet sometimes includes fish as they are good swimmers. Most leopards are light, golden coloured and covered in dark spots referred to as rosettes because of their shape. They are solitary animals; males and females only spend a brief time together while mating, and thereafter go their separate ways again leaving the female to raise the cubs on her own. For the creation of this coin, the South African Mint credits: Paul Botes (die-sinker/engraver), JA Geldenhuys (artist) and RC Stone (designer). | ||||||
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Royal Mint |
Coins in the Big Five series (ordered by metal / size / design / year):
- 1 oz Platinum Proof, Big Five - Elephant, 2019
- 1 oz Platinum Bullion, Big Five - Elephant, 2020
- 1 oz Platinum Proof, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 1 oz Platinum Bullion, Big Five - Elephant, 2022
- 1 oz Platinum Bullion, Big Five - Elephant, 2023
- 1 oz Platinum Proof, Big Five - Lion, 2019
- 1 oz Platinum Proof, Big Five II - Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Platinum Proof, Big Five - Rhino, 2020
- 1 oz Platinum Proof, Big Five II - Rhino, 2022
- 1 oz Platinum Proof, Big Five - Leopard, 2020
- 1 oz Platinum Proof, Big Five II - Leopard, 2023
- 1 oz Platinum Proof, Big Five - Buffalo, 2021
- 1 oz Platinum Proof, Big Five II - Buffalo, 2023
- 1 kg Gold Proof, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 1 kg Gold Proof, Big Five II - Lion, 2022
- 1 kg Gold Proof, Big Five II - Rhino, 2022
- 1 kg Gold Proof, Big Five II - Leopard, 2023
- 1 kg Gold Proof, Big Five II - Buffalo, 2023
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Lion, 2022
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Rhino, 2022
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Leopard, 2023
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Buffalo, 2023
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Big Five - Elephant, 2019
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, Big Five - Elephant, 2022
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, Big Five - Elephant, 2023
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, Big Five - Elephant, 2024
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Big Five III - Elephant, 2024
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Big Five - Lion, 2019
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Big Five - Rhino, 2020
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Rhino, 2022
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Big Five - Leopard, 2020
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Leopard, 2023
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Big Five - Buffalo, 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Buffalo, 2023
- 1/4 oz Gold, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 1/4 oz Gold, Big Five III - Elephant, 2024
- 1/4 oz Gold, Big Five II - Lion, 2022
- 1/4 oz Gold, Big Five II - Rhino, 2022
- 1/4 oz Gold, Big Five II - Leopard, 2023
- 1/4 oz Gold, Big Five II - Buffalo, 2023
- 1 kg Silver, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 1 kg Silver, Big Five II - Lion, 2022
- 1 kg Silver, Big Five II - Rhino, 2022
- 1 kg Silver, Big Five II - Leopard, 2023
- 5 oz Silver, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 5 oz Silver, Big Five II - Lion, 2022
- 5 oz Silver, Big Five II - Rhino, 2022
- 5 oz Silver, Big Five II - Leopard, 2023
- 5 oz Silver, Big Five II - Buffalo, 2023
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five - Elephant, 2019
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five III - Elephant, 2024
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five - Lion, 2019
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five II - Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five - Rhino, 2020
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five II - Rhino, 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five - Leopard, 2020
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five II - Leopard, 2023
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five - Buffalo, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five II - Buffalo, 2023
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Royal Mint |
Country | South Africa |
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Currency | Rand |
Coin Type | Gold Kilo (1 kg) |
Issued | 2023 |
Symbol | Coat of Arms of South Africa |
Face Value | 50 (x Rand) |
Total Mintage | 10 |
Current | Yes |
Material | 0.9999 Gold |
Designer | P Botes, JA Geldenhuys, RC Stone |
Technology | Milled (machine-made) |
Shape | Round |
Orientation | Medal Alignment (Axis 0) |
Size | 90.0000 mm |
Mass | 1,000.0000 g |
OCC ID | WMRA-EQPC-KQMB-OYPL |
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Handbook of United States Coins 2025 |