Coins of the South African rand
The coins of the South African rand are part of the physical form of South Africa's currency, the South African rand. In 1961, South Africa replaced the pound with a decimal currency: 100 cents (100c) = 1 rand (R1), 1 rand being valued at 10 shillings and 1 cent at 1.2 pence.
The rand was introduced in the then Union of South Africa on 14 February 1961, shortly before the establishment of the Republic on 31 May 1961. The coins bore the forward-facing portrait of Jan van Riebeeck on the obverse.
The initial circulation coins of the Republic were the following:
The coins initially had the same size as the former South African coins. All except the 1⁄2 and 1 cent coins were in silver. The previous South African farthing coin (¼d) and half-a-crown ( 2 1⁄2s) were not continued in decimal currency.
In addition, two bullion coins with denominations of 1 rand and 2 rand were issued, replacing the gold half-pound and pound coins introduced in 1952. Both the pound and the rand gold coins matched the specifications of the British half-sovereign and sovereign (minted, among others, at the Pretoria branch mint until 1932), including the gold alloy (crown gold) with a fineness of 22 carat (91.67%). The reverse of the gold rand coins features the well-known springbok illustration designed by Coert Steynberg for the 5-shilling coin introduced in 1948.
A revised coinage series was introduced for 1965. Denominations included 1⁄2, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents. Silver was replaced in coins by cupronickel.
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