Gold Quarter Ounce 2016 CWCBR - North, 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 quarter-ounce (1/4 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 quarter-Krugerrands retain their specifications (22-carat gold) while the other coin series issued after 1994 are 99.99% gold; just as the quarter-Krugerrand though, they contain exactly a quarter ounce of pure gold or 1/4 oz Absolute Gold Weight (0.250 oz AGW).

This coin is part of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere coin series; in 2016, the South African Mint issued two gold quarter ounces and two silver ounces in it. This coin represents the northern core area of the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve (CWCBR).

The South African Mint says about it:
"Greater consciousness of how we interact with nature has developed in the past half-century. UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) launched the Man and the Biosphere Programme in 1971 ‘to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources’. South Africa participates in this international initiative. Hence UNESCO’s logo is featured as a mint mark on the reverse of each coin

The Biosphere Reserve coin series was launched in 2015 and portrayed the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve that year. The Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve (CWCBR), designated in 2000, is featured in 2016. This series consists of two R2 (1/4 oz) gold coins and two R2 (1 oz) sterling-silver crowns."

The reverse of the first R2 (1/4 oz) gold coin represents the northern core area of the biosphere reserve, which consists of the Berg River Estuary and the West Coast National Park (WCNP). The WCNP and the Saldanha Bay islands are international "important bird areas" and a Ramsar site. As such, the great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) as well as the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), both water birds, are depicted on this coin. The WCNP is also known for its fynbos, which transforms the landscape into a beautiful floral tapestry during the summer months. The Elands Sourfig (Carpobrotus acinaciformis) and the Chinkerinchee (Ornithogalum thyrsoides), also depicted on the coin, represent the rich flora of the area.

Both sides were designed by L Guerra and engraved by MD Mothobela.