Five new R2 coins and a new R5 coin were launched this week as part of celebrating South Africa’s 25 years as a constitutional democracy. The South African Mint’s ‘SA25 – Celebrating South Africa’ coin series paid tribute to the rights and freedoms espoused by South Africa’s Constitution by collaborating with five of SA’s emerging young and talented artists.

SA Mint issued new collectable coins in base metal, sterling silver and pure gold, featuring designs that symbolize democracy in action. The highest court in South Africa, born of the country’s first democratic Constitution in 1994, features prominently on the reverse of the R500 pure-gold coin. This coin depicts the building that houses the Constitutional Court, including the detail of a door which has the 27 constitutional rights engraved in its wood, as well as the popular skyline of Johannesburg in the background. Designed by architect Shaun Gaylard, the reverse is inspired by the interaction between the building, its inhabitants and its visitors.

The reverse of the R50 sterling-silver collectable coin features the constitutional democracy in action, symbolised by people queuing to vote as they did on 27 April 1994 in the first democratic elections in South Africa. The snake-like qualities of the queue of people running into the distance were the primary motivation for the design by Lady Skollie (Laura Windvogel) who drew inspiration from Khoisan rock paintings and the element of waiting for a better tomorrow (in a queue).

‘We the people of South Africa’ is the theme for the R50 bronze alloy coin, and these words feature prominently on the reverse of the coin by artist Peter Mammes. The line is the preamble of the Constitution of South Africa. The two joined hands symbolising togetherness also represent people, ethnicity and religion. The detail in the pattern of the crosses draws attention to the ‘mark’ that voters make on the ballot paper.

The six new commemorative circulation coins are: R2 ‘Children’s Rights’ by Neo Mahlangu; R2 ‘Right to Education’ by Neo Mahlangu; R2 ‘Environmental Rights’ by Maaike Bakker; R2 ‘Right to Movement and Residence’ by Rasty Knayles; R2 ‘Freedom of Religion, Belief and Opinion’ by Peter Mammes; and

R5 ‘Let us Live and Strive for Freedom’ by Lady Skollie.

The new commemorative circulation coins celebrating South Africa’s constitutional democracy form part of all the other coins already in circulation and are all worth their face value. All collectable coins can be purchased at the South African Mint’s retail store in Centurion or through the various mall activations that the South African Mint will host throughout the country.

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