R2, South Africa, 1989, Nickel-plated Copper

Country

South Africa

Year

1989

Value

R2, Two Rand, 2 ZAR, 2 Rand

Metal

Nickel-plated Copper (Grey)

Weight

5.50gm

Diameter

23.0mm 

Thickness

1.750mm

Obverse Design

Arthur Sutherland(ALS)

Reverse Design

Arthur Sutherland(ALS)

Shape

Round

Last issue of series

Obverse

Coat of Arms features a shield quartered, each quarter a symbol of one of the four provinces of South Africa. An ox wagon represents Transvaal Province, a woman with an anchor represents Cape Province, two wildebeests represent Natal Province and an orange tree represents the Orange Free State Province. The crest of the arms features a lion holding four bound sticks. The supporters are a springbok and a gemsbok. Below the arms, the Latin motto, EX UNITATE VIRES (translated at first as "Union Is Strength", but from 1961 translated as "Unity Is Strength").

Lettering:

SUID-AFRIKA  (left)

1989 (top)

SOUTH AFRICA (Right)

ALS (initials)

Reverse

Features the Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), known as the “King of the Antelope” because of its magnificent horns.

Lettering:

2 RAND (Right)

ALS (initials, to the right)

Edge

Milled interrupted, in five sections(no edge inscription)

Mintage

Proof Mintage

1989

65,233,000 (65.2 million)