Southern Rhodesia 2-SHILLINGS (KM23)¶
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Reverse: SABLE ANTELOPE
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Obverse: King George VI
- Composition
- Copper-nickel
- Country
- Zimbabwe
- Approx. Size
- 28.3mm
- Area
- Africa
- Animal Class
- Mammals
- Species
- Sable Antelope
- KM#
- 23
The Sable is a very large antelope weighing up to 270 kg. They live in light woodlands and are considered one of the most impressive antelope species of Africa. The Giant Sable Antelope is a critically endangered species.
The reverse design of this coin first appeared on a silver piece in 1932 (KM#4), followed by two silver versions with King George VI (1937 KM#12, 1939-46 KM#19 & #19a), this copper-nickel version from 1948 through 1952, and finally a version with Queen Elizabeth II issued in 1954 (KM#30).
Zimbabwe¶
- Area
- Africa
Zimbabwe is a land-locked country in south-eastern Africa. Zimbabwe contains numerous paleolithic sites, as well as the ruins of a famous gold-trading centre that peaked in the 14-15th century. Zimbabwe used to be Southern Rhodesia, named after Cecil Rhodes of the British South Africa Company.Mr. Rhodes controlled and developed the area from the late ninteenth century until 1923 when Britain joined Southern Rhodesia with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. In 1963, Northern Rhodesia became Zambia and Nyasaland became Malawi. Meanwhile, Southern Rhodesia didn't achieve independence because the white people in control refused to play properly with the black people who were there first. Political games followed for five years. In 1970 the area became the Republic of Rhodesia. By 1978 everyone seemed to be getting along, and the black majority had the majority say in the government. By 1980, Zimbabwe was born as an independent member of the British Commonwealth of Nations.
