South Africa 1-RAND (KM71.1)¶
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Reverse: SPRINGBOK
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Obverse: Jan van Riebeeck
- Composition
- .8000 Silver
- Country
- South Africa
- Approx. Size
- 32.5mm
- Area
- Africa
- Animal Class
- Mammals
- Species
- Springbok
- KM#
- 71
When the Republic of South Africa was formed in 1961, they switched to decimal coinage, with 100 cents equal to 1 rand. This coin replaces the old 5-shilling piece and features the Springbok in a leaping portrait. That is fitting, since "spring" is actually Dutch and Afrikaans for "jump" (and bok means antelope or goat). Springboks are grazers, and they inhabit the vast grass plains in the western part of the southern tip of Africa. The Springbok is the national animal of South Africa and has been hunted since stone age times. Export of its hide is a booming business and its population is considered to be expanding.
South Africa¶
- Area
- Africa
South Africa covers over 1.2 million square kilometers on the southern tip of Africa, with approximately 2,800 km of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. It contains the oldest archaeological sites in the world, dating back 3 million years. Modern humans have been in South Africa for around 100,000 years.The first European contact came in 1487 (Portugal), and in 1652 the Dutch East India Company founded what would become Cape Town. Great Britain annexed this area in 1806. Troubles escalated when diamonds and gold were discovered (1867 and 1884) and typical human greed led to increased subjugation of the indigenous people. Great Britain fought two Boer wars (1880-1881 and 1899-1902), the second of which was particularly bloody.
South Africa achieved independence in 1931, and in 1948 the newly elected National Party intensified the systemic segregation of the people. This became known as Apartheid, which resulted in less than 10% of the population (white) pretty much controlling everything, while everyone else languished. After world-wide attention resulted in sanctions, this unfair system began to be dismantled in 1990, and the first open elections (that included all people) followed in 1994. Since then, South Africa has been stuggling with some serious social and economic issues.
South Africa boasts a large and diverse cultural heritage, including cuisine, music, and dance. It has 11 official languages.
