Platinum Ounce 2021 Big Five - Elephant, Coin from South Africa

Coin	Platinum Ounce 2021 Big Five - Elephant

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 first design in the Big Five II 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 “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. The series started in 2019 with the Elephant, with a new design issued every six months; its second edition started again with the Elephant in 2021, with a new obverse design.

For the creation of this coin, the South African Mint credits: Paul Botes (die-sinker), JA Geldenhuys (artist) and RC Stone (designer).

Mint	South African Mint	Mint Mark	No mint mark	Total Mintage	500

Obverse

Most of the surface area of the obverse is taken by a close-up front view of an African elephant, with its ears flared and trunk and tusks dominant.

Below left, small letters PB represent the initials of the die-sinker (engraver) Paul Botes.

Below, surrounded by two curved ornaments reminiscent of ivory tusks, the legend SOUTH AFRICA is separated from the inscription BIG FIVE 2021 by a small Coat of Arms of South Africa.

Obverse Inscription	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2021

Reverse

The reverse of the elephant coin bears the ingenious design of two halves of an elephant’s face, side-by-side. The ear, tusk, eyes, and part of the nose of each of these halves are prominent in this design, which gives one complete face when two coins are placed next to each other. When multiple coins are placed next to each other, a herd is formed.

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).

Near the lowest part of the rim, small letters PB represent the initials of the die-sinker (engraver) Paul Botes.

Reverse Inscription	TWENTY RAND 1 OZ Pt 999.5

Edge	Milled	Edge Inscription	None

Notes	Platinum content (troy oz): 1.000 Finish: proof. Packaging: in luxury wooden box, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. Release date: 15 September 2021.

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See also

All (14) coins of type: Platinum Ounce (1 oz)

Coin Name	Mintage	Symbol	Legend
Platinum Ounce 2017 Krugerrand	1,967	Paul Kruger by Otto Schultz	SUID-AFRIKA · SOUTH AFRICA
Platinum Ounce 2019 Big Five - Elephant	unknown	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2019
Platinum Ounce 2019 Big Five - Lion	496	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2019
Platinum Ounce 2020 Big Five - Elephant	unknown	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2020
Platinum Ounce 2020 Big Five - Rhino	500	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2020
Platinum Ounce 2020 Big Five - Leopard	500	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2020
Platinum Ounce 2021 Big Five - Buffalo	500	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2021
Platinum Ounce 2021 Big Five - Elephant	500	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2021
Platinum Ounce 2022 Big Five - Elephant	unknown	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2022
Platinum Ounce 2022 Big Five - Lion	500	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2022
Platinum Ounce 2022 Big Five - Rhino	500	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2022
Platinum Ounce 2023 Big Five - Elephant	unknown	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2023
Platinum Ounce 2023 Big Five - Leopard	500	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2023
Platinum Ounce 2023 Big Five - Buffalo	500	Coat of Arms of South Africa	SOUTH AFRICA BIG FIVE 2023

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Platinum Ounce 2021 Big Five - Elephant: Details

Country	South Africa
Currency	Rand
Coin Type	Platinum Ounce (1 oz)
Issued	2021
Symbol	Coat of Arms of South Africa
Face Value	20 (x Rand)
Total Mintage	500
Current	Yes
Material	0.9995 Platinum
Designer	P Botes, JA Geldenhuys, RC Stone
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size	32.6900 mm
Mass	31.1070 g
OCC ID	APVZ-OYRC-JJXR-ELMD

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Platinum Ounce 2021 Big Five - Elephant: Photos

Image	Details
	2021 South Africa 1 oz Platinum Big Five Elephant Proof Copyright: APMEX Source
	2021 South Africa 1 oz Platinum Big Five Elephant Proof Copyright: APMEX Source
	Coin, South Africa, Platinum Ounce 2021 Big Five - Elephant Copyright: South African Mint Source

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Big Five II - Elephant - 1 Oz | EMK.com

Platinum Ounce 2021 Big Five - Elephant, Coin from South Africa - detailed information