A GREAT PRICE AT WHICH TO OBTAIN
THIS NUMISMATIC COLLECTORS SET
ONLY 4 319 SETS EVER ISSUED

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Description:

1961 THE FIRST TYPE SERIES VAN  RIEBEECK SERIES COINAGE OF THE NEW REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AS IT TRANSITIONED OUT OF THE UNION AND BRITISH RULE AND BECAME A REPUBLIC

THE FIRST DECIMAL COINAGE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA RETAINED THE EQUIVALENT SIZES OF THE STERLING COINS BUT USED DECIMAL DENOMINATIONS

THESE FIRST EVER SOUTH AFRICAN
DENOMINATIONS RAN FROM 50c TO 1/2c IN THE
SHORT PROOF SERIES BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN MINT

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:

1⁄2 cent  (replaced 1⁄2d)

1 cent (replaced 1d)

 2 1⁄2 cents (replaced 3d)

5 cents (replaced 6d)

10 cents (replaced 1s)

20 cents (replaced 2s)

50 cents (replaced 5s)

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 "pronking" or prancing springbok illustration designed by Coert Steynberg for the 5-shilling coin introduced in 1948.