| Coin | Platinum Ounce 2023 Big Five - Elephant |
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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 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; this was re-issued as bullion in 2022 and 2023, with the original design of the obverse.
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 a close-up front view of an African elephant, with its ears flared and trunk and tusks dominant.
In small letters below right (above the BI 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 2023 by a small Coat of Arms of South Africa. |
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| Reverse | |
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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. |
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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 | Platinum content (troy oz): 1.000
Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Packaging: in plastic flip, or ten coins in acrylic tube. |
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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
- 1 kg Gold Proof, Big Five II - Rhino, 2022
- 1 kg Gold Proof, Big Five II - Leopard, 2023
- 1 kg Gold Proof, Big Five II - Buffalo, 2023
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Lion, 2022
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Rhino, 2022
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Leopard, 2023
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Big Five II - Buffalo, 2023
- 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 Bullion, Big Five - Elephant, 2024
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Big Five III - Elephant, 2024
- 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 III - Elephant, 2024
- 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
- 1 kg Silver, Big Five II - Rhino, 2022
- 1 kg Silver, Big Five II - Leopard, 2023
- 5 oz Silver, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 5 oz Silver, Big Five II - Lion, 2022
- 5 oz Silver, Big Five II - Rhino, 2022
- 5 oz Silver, Big Five II - Leopard, 2023
- 5 oz Silver, Big Five II - Buffalo, 2023
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five - Elephant, 2019
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five II - Elephant, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Big Five III - Elephant, 2024
- 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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