Silver Crown 2016 CWCBR - People, Coin from South Africa - detailed information

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 silver one-ounce (1 oz) format. These include silver 1 oz Krugerrands, the Protea series, the Natura series, as well as one-year types that do not fall into a particular series. Some are made of Sterling silver (92.5%) alloyed with copper, just like the British pre-decimal Crown coins, and some are 99.9% silver. The Sterling versions are overall heavier though, so they also contain exactly one ounce of pure silver or 1oz Absolute Silver Weight (1.000 oz ASW); they are called "Crowns" in the "Crown and Tickey" coin sets in which some of them are issued, and are officially denominated as two, five or ten Rands.

This coin is part of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere coin series; in 2016, the South African Mint issued two gold quarter ounces and two silver ounces in it. This coin represents the People of the West Coast.

The South African Mint says about it:
"Greater consciousness of how we interact with nature has developed in the past half-century. UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) launched the Man and the Biosphere Programme in 1971 ‘to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources’. South Africa participates in this international initiative. Hence UNESCO’s logo is featured as a mint mark on the reverse of each coin

The Biosphere Reserve coin series was launched in 2015 and portrayed the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve that year. The Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve (CWCBR), designated in 2000, is featured in 2016. This series consists of two R2 (1/4 oz) gold coins and two R2 (1 oz) sterling-silver crowns."

The reverse of the second R2 (1 oz) sterling-silver crown depicts the agricultural and tourism industries within the biosphere reserve. The fishing industry is an important source of income for the people of the West Coast. Small fishing boats and a fisherman drawing in his net are portrayed on the coin. The wheat, cattle and sheep pattern represent the Swartland grain cultivation and the livestock and dairy production; and the grapes and flowers allude to the viticulture, with specific reference to biodiversity and the Wine Initiative.

Both sides were designed by L Guerra; the reverse was engraved by C Moses and the obverse was engraved by MD Mothobela.