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 tenth-ounce (1/10th 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 tenth-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 one tenth of an ounce of pure gold or 1/10 oz Absolute Gold Weight (0.100 oz AGW).
The R1 (1/10oz) pure gold coin was re-introduced in 1997 as a commemorative coin. The theme South African Reptiles began in 2015 and featured the Nile crocodile. The Cape dwarf chameleon is depicted on the 2016 coin.
The Cape dwarf chameleon, Bradypodion pumilum, represents the lizards within the reptile series. Endemic to the southern part of the Western Cape, it is one of 15 described dwarf chameleons in the country. This small, viviparous lizard has come under intense pressure as its habitat has been transformed into urban areas and monoculture plantations.
On the R1 coin the chameleon is shown basking in the sun, while its eyes move independently from one another searching for prey and predators. |