Silver ounce African springbok
The African springbok silver ounce is a series of silver coins with a fine weight of one ounce that have been issued by the states of Malawi and Gabon since 2010 .
From 2000 onwards, the Republic of Malawi annually issued collector and investor coins with African motifs, but also for international occasions. In 2010, the issue of a silver coin with a fine weight of one ounce began. The motif was the African springbok , which, in contrast to well-known South African coins, is shown mirrored. The sometimes used designation as the "silver coin Krugerrand " is not exact, because the "rand" is the currency of South Africa and not the country of issue of the silver ounce. These coins have been issued by the Republic of Gabon since 2012. For the 50th anniversary of the Krugerrand in 2017, the coins from Gabon and Malawi were supplemented by a silver Krugerrand coin from South Africa.
Motif springbok
The springbok was first used as a motif on the South African silver coin 5 shillings in 1947; Minted in the South African Mint in Pretoria from 800 silver with a weight of 28.28 g and a diameter of 38.61 mm. This coin was issued on the occasion of the visit of King George VI. in South Africa. The South African sculptor Coert Steynberg (1905–1982) designed the face of the coin. The springbok was the heraldic animal of the apartheid state of South Africa.
The following 5 Shillings silver coins from 1948 to 1959 also show this springbok motif.
gold coin 1/2 pound 1952 silver coin 50 cents 1961
gold ounce Krugerrand 1977
After the currency changeover on February 14, 1961 in South Africa, the springbok motif was used again from 1961 to 1964 for the 50 cents silver coins made of 500 silver with a weight of 28.28 g and a diameter of 39 mm.
In addition, the springbok motif is also used from 1952 for the minting of South African gold coins of ½ and 1 pound from 916⅔ gold with a weight of 3.99 g and 7.98 g and a diameter of 18.1 mm respectively.
From July 1967 the successful gold investor coin “ Krugerrand ” (called “Krugerrand” in South Africa) with the unchanged springbok motif was issued. This made Coert Steynberg's motif known worldwide. Up to and including 2016, 916 gold was minted as 1/10, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 ounce fine gold. In 2017, coins of 50, 5, 1/20 and 1/50 ounces of fine gold will be issued for the first time. For the first time, a silver ounce with the original Kruger motif is also to be issued.
The design of the silver ounce from Malawi and Gabon differs from the Krugerrand except for the reflection of the springbok motif due to a different representation of the savannah landscape. There is also something special about these silver ounces. In the landscape below the angled front leg of the springbok, the upside-down depiction of an animal motif that changes every year is hidden. The South African Mint's silver Krugerrand, on the other hand, has adopted the design of the gold Krugerrand. A novelty, however, is that a face value (1 rand) is stamped, because the Krugerrand was the only bullion coin to date with no face value.
Issuing country Republic of Malawi
The Republic of Malawi issued the silver ounce in 2010 and 2011 with a face value of 50 kwacha . The kwacha has been the national currency since 1971 and means “dawn” or “freedom”. At the conversion rate of 2010, 50 Kwacha = 0.24 EUR and 2011 = 0.22 EUR.
Malawi Silver Ounce Springbok 2010
Malawi Silver Ounce Springbok 2011
Malawi silver ounce coat of arms 2010–2011
- Image side
- Springbok on a savannah landscape with hidden animals. To the left of it a Privy Mark in a circle.
- Year divided by springbok motif; Transcription in English above: SILVER INVESTMENT COIN and below: .999 FINE SILVER 1 OZ
- Coat of arms page
- National coat of arms of Malawi with the motto in English "UNITY AND FREEDOM" ("Unity and Freedom");
- Inscription above state name in English: REPUBLIC OF MALAWI and below nominal value: 50 KWACHA
- edge
- edge boning on both sides; Straight fluted edge
Issuing country Republic of Gabon
As of 2012, the Republic of Gabon will no longer be named as the issuing country on the silver ounce , but Malawi . The expenses are made with the nominal value of 1,000 Francs CFA BEAC (XAF) (= Franc de la Coopération Financière en Afrique Centrale) . It has been the common currency of the Central African countries, which has existed since 1972, and is issued by the Institut Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale. The currency is tied to the EURO at the rate of 1 EUR = 655.957 Francs CFA BEAC, so the face value of the coin = 1.52 EUR.
The production of the first silver ounce under Gabon in 2012 was carried out with a polished embossing stamp , then as a stamped gloss matt . The design of the picture side remains unchanged in 2012 and 2013. From 2014, the legend changed to "The African Springbok".
Gabon silver ounce springbok 2012
Gabon silver ounce springbok 2013
Gabon silver ounce coat of arms from 2012
Gabon silver ounce springbok 2014
Gabon silver ounce springbok 2015
Gabon silver ounce springbok 2016
Gabon silver ounce springbok 2017
- Image side
- Springbok on a savannah landscape with hidden animals. 2012, 2014 and 2015 with Privy Mark in a circle. Year divided by springbok motif.
- Inscription 2012 and 2013 in English above: SILVER INVESTMENT COIN and below: .999 FINE SILVER 1 OZ
- Inscription from 2014 in English above: THE AFRICAN SPRINGBOK and below: .999 FINE SILVER 1 OZ
- Coat of arms page
- The national coat of arms of Gabon with the French national slogan: "Union, Travail, Justice" ("Unity, Work, Justice") and a Latin motto on the banner above the sign: "Uniti progredimur." (United we will move forward). State denomination as inscription RÈPUBLIQUE GABONAISE above and nominal value 1000 FRANCS CFA below
- edge
- edge boning on both sides; Straight fluted edge
Special features of the years
Coin marking
Individual years are marked with a coin mark ( Privy Mark ) on the left side of the picture on the occasion of the following events:
- 2010 "1st Ed." = First edition as a symbol for the first issue of the coin series.
- 2011 “50th Anniv.” = 50th anniversary of the illustration of the springbok motif by Coert Steynberg on the first gold coins after the currency changeover in South Africa on February 14, 1961 with the face value of 1 and 2 rand, minted from 1961 to 1983 from 916 gold with 3.99 g and 7 respectively , 98 g.
- 2012 "65th Anniv." = 65th anniversary of the first illustration of the springbok motif by Coert Steynberg on a South African silver coin, minted in 1947 with the face value of 5 shillings made of 800 silver with a weight of 28.28 g.
- 2013 no coin marking
- 2014 “5th Anniv.” = 5th anniversary of the start of the coin series and symbol for the fifth issue of the silver ounce with the springbok motif.
- 2015 “50th Anniv.” = 50th anniversary of the first illustration of a springbok on a silver coin after the currency changeover in South Africa on February 14, 1961 with a face value of 1 rand, minted in 1965, 1966 and 1968 from 800 silver with a weight of 15 g.
- No coin marking in 2016
- 2017 "50th Anniv." = 50th anniversary of the first issue of the Krugerrand gold investor coin made from 1 ounce of fine gold.
Hidden animal motif
With the silver ounces, an annually changing animal motif is hidden in the savannah landscape below the angled foreleg of the springbok. In order to recognize the representation, the coin must be turned upside down.
2011 buffalo head
2012 gorilla head
2013 elephant head
2014 Springbok head
2015 rhinoceros head
2016 zebra head
2017 Giraffe head with neck base
Technical specifications
The fine silver content and silver weight are indicated on the face of the coins: 999 ‰ silver with a fine weight of one ounce = 31.1034768 g. This results in a target gross weight of at least 31.135 g. Measurements of the coins shown above showed that the issuing countries guaranteed the gross minimum weight. A mint mark for the mint is missing so far. From 2011, the target diameter will decrease from 40.0 mm to 38.6 mm. To compensate for this, the thickness of the coin increases.
| year | Nominal | Edition | Manufacturing method | Weight | Ø maximum | thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 50 kwacha | 30,000 pieces | Brilliant as silk matt | 31.43 g | 40.02 mm | 2.92 mm |
| 2011 | 50 kwacha | 30,000 pieces | Brilliant as silk matt | 31.26 g | 38.55 mm | 2.97 mm |
| 2012 | 1,000 francs CFA | 30,000 pieces | Shiny uncirculated | 31.43 g | 38.55 mm | 3.06 mm |
| 2013 | 1,000 francs CFA | 30,000 pieces | Brilliant as silk matt | 31.36 g | 38.55 mm | 3.02 mm |
| 2014 | 1,000 francs CFA | 30,000 pieces | Brilliant as silk matt | 31.26 g | 38.54 mm | 3.04 mm |
| 2015 | 1,000 francs CFA | 30,000 pieces | Brilliant as silk matt | 31.30 g | 38.52 mm | 3.07 mm |
| 2016 | 1,000 francs CFA | 30,000 pieces | Brilliant as silk matt | 31.55 g | 38.45 mm | 2.96 mm |
| 2017 | 1,000 francs CFA | 30,000 pieces | Brilliant as silk matt | 31.27 g | 38.50 mm | 2.98 mm |
literature
- Schön, Günter / Schön, Gerhard: World coin catalog 20th & 21st centuries from 1900-2010 , 39th edition 2011
Individual evidence
- ↑ Schön, world coin catalog. 2011, Country of Malawi, No. 125
- ↑ a b Schön, world coin catalog. 2011, Land South Africa, No. 43
- ↑ Schön, world coin catalog. 2011, Land South Africa, No. 52, 61 and 73
- ↑ Schön, world coin catalog. 2011, Land South Africa, no.83
- ↑ Schön, world coin catalog. 2011, Land South Africa, No. 63, 64, 84 and 85
- ↑ Schön, world coin catalog. 2011, Land South Africa, No. 102-105
- ↑ goldsilbershop.de The Silver Krugerrand - the new coin 2017
- ↑ Schön, world coin catalog. 2011, country of Gabon
- ↑ Schön, world coin catalog. 2011, Land South Africa, No. 84 and 85
- ↑ Schön, world coin catalog. 2011, Land South Africa, No. 92
- ↑ Schön, world coin catalog. 2011, Land of South Africa, No. 105
- ↑ Author's coin collection