| Coin | Platinum Ounce 2019 Big Five - Lion |
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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 and metals, such as a platinum one-ounce (1 oz) format. These include platinum 1 oz Krugerrands, other series, as well as one-year types that do not fall into a particular series.
This is the second coin of the Big Five 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. The male lion symbolises royalty and strength in some African cultures, while the lioness represents femininity and motherhood.
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 | |
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Most of the surface area of the obverse is taken by the close-up image of a male lion's head with the fine detail of its mane filling the interior of the coin.
In small letters below right (above the B in BIG), the engraver's initials PB (for Paul Botes).
Below, surrounded by two curved ornaments reminiscent of ivory tusks, the legend SOUTH AFRICA is separated from the inscription BIG FIVE 2019 by a small Coat of Arms of South Africa. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the lion coin bears an inspired design of two halves of a lion’s face, side-by-side. This is done so that when two of the coins are placed next to each other, a complete image of the face of a lion is seen (as seen in the double-capsule proof set). When multiple coins are placed next to each other, a pride of lions can be seen.
In a small circle at centre, the mass of the coin 1 OZ is surrounded by its face value TWENTY RAND above and the composition Pt 999.5 below (Pt is abbreviated from Platinum and is used internationally to mark platinum bullion coinage).
In the lower left, small letters PB represent the initials of the die-sinker (engraver) Paul Botes. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
TWENTY RAND 1 OZ Pt 999.5 |
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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 coins, issued individually boxed, at issue price of R 26,995. |
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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
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Lion, 2022
- 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 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 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
- 5 oz Silver, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 5 oz Silver, Big Five II - Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five - Elephant, 2019
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 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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