Silver Ounce 2018 UNESCO - Kudu, 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 2018, the South African Mint issued two gold quarter ounces and two silver ounces in it. This coin features a Cape Griffon (a type of vulture).

The South African Mint says about it:
"Introduced in 2015, The UNESCO Man and the Biosphere coin series features the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve (WBR) in 2018. A pristine wilderness and important water catchment area for the arid region, the biosphere is situated within the Bushveld District in the Limpopo Province. Preservation of the water resources was one of the main reasons for establishing the biosphere reserve.

This sterling-silver R2 captures the open landscape of the WBR. The Seven Sisters Mountain range, an iconic feature of, and the gateway to the Waterberg, are shown with clouds gathering above in the background. A greater kudu bull (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is featured standing in the water at the edge of a river. In the background, the wild syringa (Burkea africana) is shown."