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 southern 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 second R2 (1/4 oz) gold coin represents the southern core area of the biosphere reserve, which consists of Dassen Island, the Riverlands Nature Reserve and the Witzand Aquifer. The black harrier (Circus maurus), the Cape fox (Vulpes chame) and the beautiful wine cup flower (Geissorhiza radians) represent the fauna and flora of this part of the CWCBR. The aquifer, which provides 40 percent of Cape Town’s water, is represented by a water droplet pattern.
Both sides were designed by L Guerra; the reverse was engraved by VL Chipa and the obverse by MD Mothobela. |