Coin | Gold Ounce 2020 Big Five - Leopard |
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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 is part of the Big Five coin series by the South African Mint, which celebrates Africa’s unique natural heritage by embodying the strength and beauty of the Big Five animals on legal tender coins.
The coins in the series are issued every 6 months, starting with the Elephant and the Lion in 2019, then the Rhino in 2020. The Leopard is the fourth of the ferocious five to be featured in this series. They 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.
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.
For the creation of this coin, the South African Mint credits: Paul Botes (die-sinker), JA Geldenhuys (artist) and RC Stone (designer). |
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Obverse | |
The obverse shows the cunning side profile of the leopard, which fills up much of the surface area of the coin.
Below, surrounded by two curved ornaments reminiscent of ivory tusks, the legend SOUTH AFRICA is separated from the inscription BIG FIVE 2020 by a small Coat of Arms of South Africa. |
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Reverse | |
The reverse of the coin features two halves of the leopard’s face, detailing its eyes, nose and whiskers. This ingenious design allows for a complete close-up of a leopard to be seen only when two of the coins are placed next to each other (as seen in the double-capsule proof set).
When multiple coins are placed next to each other, a leap is formed.
In a small circle at centre, the mass of the coin 1 OZ is surrounded by its face value FIFTY RAND above and the composition Au 999.9 below (Au is abbreviated from Aurum, which means "gold" in Latin and is used internationally on gold bullion coinage).
In the lower right, small letters PB represent the initials of the die-sinker (engraver) Paul Botes. |
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Reverse Inscription |
FIFTY RAND 1 OZ Au 999.9 |
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Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | The coin is issued in Proof grade only. Mintage limited to 500 individually boxed coins (issue price R 48,995) plus 100 in a set with a Krugerrand with Leopard privy mark. |
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See also |
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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