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 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 began with the introduction of the palaeontology theme in 2018, in recognition of South Africa’s significance to this field and study of plant and animal fossils.
The first instalment of the palaeontology-themed 24ct gold coins focused on "Rise of the dinosaurs - Archosauria", and as a response to popular demand, the South African Mint released the first silver Natura coin under this theme in 2019.
The South African Mint is proud to introduce the 2020 silver Natura coin, the second ever silver coin to join the Natura series. This coin also focuses on the "Rise of the dinosaurs - Archosauria" theme and bears the same image as the 2018 1oz 24ct gold coin - the Coelophysis rhodesiensis."
Coelophysis rhodesiensis is an extinct species of coelophysid theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 188 million years ago during the early part of the Jurassic Period in what is now Africa. The species was a small to medium-sized, lightly built, ground-dwelling, bipedal carnivore, that could grow up to 3 m long. |