Publication Detail
Title: SARB launches commemorative R5 coin celebrating 200 years of coinage Publish Date: 2015-12-01 Publishing Approval: 2 Category: Media Releases
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will be issuing a Griqua Town themed R5 circulation coin, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the creation of the first coinage in South Africa.
The currency was created in the name of a local community: Griqua Town, but had far-reaching significance as the first South African currency, the country’s first decimal coinage and the world’s first Christian Missionary coinage.
The new R5 coin has an image of the 1815 Griqua Town coin with the words “Coinage of Griqua Town 200” and the date “1815 – 2015” on the reverse side. The obverse depicts the South African Coat of Arms, with the words SARB on each side.
The Griqua Town R5 coin is the fourth commemorative R5 issued by the SARB, since the first bi-metal R5 was introduced in 2004. Other notable anniversaries to be celebrated on the R5 coin were Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday in 2008, the 90th anniversary of the SARB in 2011 and 20 years of democracy in 2014.
This coin is a normal circulation coin and will form part of the R5 coins that are already in circulation throughout the country. The circulation coin is worth its face value of R5 and will be introduced into circulation from early 2016. The public is encouraged to recirculate the coin when they receive it.
For collectors out there, the South African Mint (SA Mint), a wholly owned subsidiary of the SARB, has launched special Griqua Town Coin Sets consisting of the following:
A R5 Proof non-circulation coin
A Set including a proof R5 coin and two R2 silver crowns
A Set consisting of a R2 gold coin, a R5 proof coin, two silver R2 crowns and a magnifying glass
A set of a R2 gold coin and a R5 non-circulation coin; a proof R5 coin and a magnifying glass
The special Griqua Town Coin Sets are available for purchase at the SA Mint in Centurion.
Note: The SARB issues commemorative circulation coins as part of its production of currency and they are usually issued to commemorate an event that involves a wider section of society, and such coins are made available and accessible to the public at face value.