The Rand currency was introduced in the then Union of South Africa on 14 February 1961, shortly before the establishment of the Republic on 31 May 1961. The One Rand coin was initially a gold bullion coin equal to the earlier gold half pound, which was itself equal to a British half sovereign (minted, among others, at the Pretoria branch of the Royal Mint - now the South African Mint, until 1932).
Silver One Rand coins started to be issued for regular circulation in 1965. This was then changed to nickel in 1977, with silver only used for commemorative and collector issues. In 1990 the nickel coin was made much smaller due to its value being much lower than before owing to inflation. The silver commemorative Rand was discontinued in this format; in 1991, the Protea One Rand (non-circulating legal tender) was introduced instead, with different composition.
This commemorative One Rand silver coin was issued in 1974 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the South African Mint the year before.
In 1910, the separate provinces of Transvaal, Orange Free State, Natal and the Cape Colony were brought together to form the Union of South Africa as a Dominion of the British Empire. The Mint Act of 1919 served to establish a branch of the Royal Mint in the city of Pretoria, and this mint began producing the Imperial gold pound (sovereign) in 1923. In July of 1941, however, ties between South Africa and the Royal Mint were severed, and the mint became known as the South African Mint thereafter. |
Obverse | |
The obverse of the coin displays the Coat of Arms of South Africa at its centre, as granted to the Union of South Africa by King George V and later amended by the British College of Arms. It contains representation of the four provinces within the Union.
The Coat of Arms features a shield quartered, each quarter a symbol of one of the four provinces of South Africa. An ox wagon represents Transvaal Province, a woman with an anchor represents Cape Province, two wildebeests represent Natal Province and an orange tree represents the Orange Free State Province. The crest of the arms features a lion holding four bound sticks. The supporters are a springbok and a gemsbok. Below the arms, the Latin motto, EX UNITATE VIRES (translated at first as "Union Is Strength", but from 1961 translated as "Unity Is Strength").
Below that on the right side, the designer's initials, T.S. (for Tommy Sasseen).
Around left, the name of the country in Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKA; around right, the name in English: SOUTH AFRICA.
Below, the date of issue: * 1974 *. |
|