Six new coins will come into circulation in the coming weeks, and there are a minibus taxi and a bird carrying a set of keys on one of them.
The new coins reflect the quarter-century anniversary of South Africa’s constitutional democracy.
The South African Mint, together with the South African Reserve Bank, said in a statement that the new coins were launched “to reinvigorate national pride”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BypINrjDi7B/
R2 ‘Children’s Rights’
Artist Neo Mahlangu used digital artwork and charcoal to design the Children’s Rights coin. “The coin is intended to capture the essence of joy and engender a sense of nostalgia as we strive to give all children in our nation the right to the equal protection of their civil rights and freedom,” the SA Mint said in a statement.
R2 ‘Right to education’
Also designed by Mahlangu, the coin illustrates education at different levels, from pre-school right up to tertiary qualifications. The basic building block depicts elementary education, an open book for the intermediary learning phase, and a graduation cap for the senior phase.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzvqL6Ugof-/
R2 ‘Environmental rights’
Pretoria-born artist Maaike Bakker used a droplet of water, grass, a fish and more, to highlight the idea of a well-balanced, protected environment. “This coin stands for the right that all South Africans have to access unspoiled natural resources that enable our survival, such as access to water, food and air.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzyPFHqDFff/
R2 ‘Freedom of movement’
Given South Africa’s dark history of segregation and restrictions, artist Rasty Knayles felt that the weaver bird holding a key would be the epitome of what the Freedom of Movement and Residence coin now represents. “Supported by an image of the well-known minibus taxi and an aeroplane, this coin shows that we have the right to freely choose our place of residence, to travel and expect to be welcomed home.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByXKHKQDWyR/
R2 ‘Freedom of religion, belief and opinion’
