Gold Ounce 2016 Mandela - Justice, Coin from South Africa - detailed information

South Africa pioneered modern bullion coinage when it first issued the Krugerrand on 3 July 1967 to help market South African gold; it is the first modern bullion coin and is still issued today.

Gradually, the South African Mint started diversifying the range, first by issuing fractional Krugerrands, then by introducing different designs to the gold one-ounce (1 oz) format. These include the Protea series, the Natura series, as well as one-year types that do not fall into a particular series. The Kruggerands retained their specifications (22-carat gold) while other coins issued after 1994 are 99.99% gold; just as the Krugerrand though, they contain exactly one ounce of pure gold or 1oz Absolute Gold Weight (1.000 oz AGW).

This coin was issued as part of the 2016 Protea - Life of a Legend (Justice) coin series, which continues a series of commemorative coins, "The life of a legend: Nelson Mandela". Introduced in 2013, a different chapter of Mr Mandela’s life is portrayed annually (his childhood in 2013, his education years in 2014 and his arrival and early years in Johannesburg in 2015). In 2016, the series focuses on Nelson Mandela as a young attorney and the concept of justice.

The Freedom Charter, adopted at the Congress of the People held in Kliptown on 26 June 1955, was a statement of core principles which called for democracy and human rights, land reform, labour rights, nationalisation and a non-racial South Africa. Many of the demands listed in the Freedom Charter were included in the 1996 Constitution of South Africa (the charter was commemorated on a silver R1 coin in 2017). The year 2016 also marks the 20th anniversary of the approval of the Constitution.

Nelson Mandela achieved his goal of becoming an independent practising attorney when, in August 1952, he and Oliver Tambo became business partners and opened "Mandela & Tambo Attorneys" in Chancellor House. This was the first African law firm in South Africa and represented clients from all over the country. It was during this time that Mr Mandela became increasingly active within the African National Congress (ANC), fighting segregationist and discriminatory laws. The 2016 pure-gold R25 (1 oz) Protea coin features Nelson Mandela as a young attorney in these offices.

Nelson Mandela passed away at the age of 95 on 5 December 2013.