To celebrate the 25th anniversary of a free South Africa, the national Mint has launched a similar competition. This competition, open to the public, is for the design of a new R2 coin. The winning design will enter national circulation in 2020.
The South African Mint has already released new coins celebrating 25 years of constitutional democracy. “Six new and unique Commemorative Circulation Coins and three new Limited-Edition Collectable Coins were designed to add a new dimension to our national identity and psyche, giving us an opportunity to reflect on our diverse identity as a country,” the Mint said in a statement.
One of these is the new R5 coin, which depicts the first national elections in 1994. The designs chosen were based on the results of a number of focus groups with “born-frees” (those born under democracy), who provided input into the symbols that they associated with democracy.
The research identified a few dominant themes, such as the constitution, the right to vote, freedom of choice and expression. The leading symbols were ID books, South African taxis and multi-coloured hands, to name a few. The South African Mint then opened the themes up to voting by the general public via Facebook to choose the ones to be used.
“When these were presented to the Theme Panel – a specialist judging committee including representatives from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), DAC, SA Mint, BASA and Arts and Culture Trust – it was clear that most of the themes were in fact closely linked to the Bill of Rights (Chapter Two of the Constitution),” the Mint says.
As a result, the Mint decided that the design of the new R2 coin must be based on one of the 22 constitutional rights not currently featured on our coinage. The obverse of the coin will feature the national coat of arms.
The rights featured on coins that are already in circulation include children’s rights, the right to education, environmental rights, freedom of movement and residence, and freedom of religion, belief and opinion. “From the remaining 22 rights and freedoms in the South African Bill of Rights, we offer you this golden opportunity to choose one right or freedom to base your coin design on,” the Mint says.
Those wanting to stand a chance to have their name written into South African history can enter the competition on https://www.sa25.co.za/