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INFO:
TWENTY ONE YEARS AGO THE BI-METAL R5 COIN WITH THE "OOM PAUL" MINTMARK WAS ISSUED
The year 2004 marked the beginning of yet another era in South African coinage with the introduction of South Africa's first bi-metal circulation coin, the 2004 R5
2004 was the first year that two different metals were used in the production of this R5 coin. Known as the BI-METAL R5 coin, the design was put into circulation by the SA mint. In 2000 / 2001 the "CW" initials were used as a mintmark on the R5 coins in those previous years.
The year 2004 and the South African Coat of Arms is featured on the obverse of the coin. On the reverse of the bi-metal coin is the Wilderbeest with the OOM PAUL PRESS and numeral "5" as well as the letters "RAND"
Only a limited quantity of mintmark R5 coins were minted on the "Oom Paul" press, one of the oldest working presses in the world. The "Oom Paul" is housed at the South African Mint Company. Hence the mintmark features a miniature mint press and the letters "CW" (Coin World).
Oom Paul was manufactured in 1891 for use in the first mint established in Pretoria in 1892. It is one of the features in our museum and has an interesting history to share.
With the discovery of gold in the Johannesburg area in 1886, and the subsequent influx of treasure seekers from all over the world, the President of then Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek saw the urgent need for the new Republiek to have its own coinage.
In 1890, the Volksraad (government) granted a concession to a consortium of Dutch, German and British investors to establish the National Bank of the ZAR and granted them permission to operate a mint, and as a result, President Kruger ordered two mint presses from Ludw. Loew & Co. in Berlin to be used in the newly established mint in 1892, which was built on Church Square, Pretoria. The machines had a manufacturing date of 1891.
Although the ZAR Mint was closed down when the British forces occupied Pretoria in 1900, the mining and banking community felt that South Africa should have its own refinery and mint and thus a Royal Mint branch was established in Pretoria
In 1923, the first gold pound was struck in the newly opened Royal Mint branch, and “Oom Paul” was once more set to work, with the other minting press used for spares.
More than 8 million coins were minted between 1892 and 1900 on the “Oom Paul” including the recently discovered “Lost Hoard” ponds and half ponds, as well as the Sammy Marks golden tickeys.
Gold sovereigns (gold ₤1) were also minted on “Oom Paul” and exported to Argentine, Australia, Brazil, Dutch East Indies, India, Ceylon, Burma, Straits Settlements and the United Kingdom From 1925-1933, during the era when South Africa was governed by the British. Source: SA Mint
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