Silver Ounce 2019 Rise of the Dinosaurs, 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 features an Euparkeria capensis and is part of the Natura coin series by the South African Mint, which celebrates Africa’s unique natural heritage.

The South African Mint says about it:
"A new chapter in the award-winning Natura series begins with the introduction of palaeontology, in recognition of South Africa’s significance to this field and study of plant and animal fossils. In this first instalment of the palaeontology-themed coins, the focus is Rise of the dinosaurs - Archosauria over the five 24ct gold coins.

The Karoo supergroup of South Africa is one of the geological wonders of the world. This 12 km thick layer of sedimentary rock was set down over a period of almost 120 million years when South Africa was still part of southern Gondwanaland.

The Archosauria - crocodiles, pterosaurs, dinosaurs and birds - or the ruling reptiles, were magnificent beasts which ruled over the land and sky for 180 million years, from the Triassic to the Cretacecous periods. The Archosauriforms evolved at the end of the Triassic, finally taking over the last enclaves of synapsid domination. The next step of evolution, which saw the rise of the dinosaurs, crocodiles and pterosaurs, was imminent.

A R25 fine-silver Natura is issued for the first time in Silver in 2019, sharing a design with the smallest gold Natura coin in the series, the R5 1/20oz 24ct gold coin. Although dated 2019, this coin belongs with the 2018 Archosaur series."

Each coin in this series depicts a different Archosauriform together with its scientific name, the word "Natura", the denomination, mass and metal value of the coin.

For the creation of the coin, the mint credits: MJ Scheepers (die sinker), F Durand (artist) and RC Stone (designer).