2015

GOLD BICENTENNIAL COINAGE

OF THE

GRIQUA TOWN

(1815-2015)

PRESTIGE SET

R2 1/4oz 24CT GOLD COIN

R5 PROOF BI-METAL ALLOY COIN

R5 UNCIRCULATED BI-METAL ALLOY COIN

Hern catalogue states

37 only

of these sets issued worldwide

SA Mint certificate states - limited edition of 200

The Griqua Town R5 coin celebrates the

history of South African coinage

The 2015 Griqua Town coins are “coins about coins”

The Griqua Town 200 year anniversary R5 coin, released by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) on 12 January, celebrates the 200th anniversary of the creation of the first coinage in South Africa.

As the first town to be established north of the Orange River, Griekwastad, or Griquatown as it is sometimes known in English, is one of the country's most important foundation towns. It was a stopover on the trade route and so was important for commerce throughout the history of the country. The town, 168 kilometres north of Kimberley, is also known for its abundance of semi-precious stones.

The Griqua currency became the first South African currency in 1815, according to the Reserve Bank. It also became the country's first decimal coinage and the world's first Christian Missionary coinage.

*The Griqua Town R5 coin is the fourth commemorative R5 issued by the Reserve Bank since the first bi-metallic R5 was introduced in 2004. Other notable commemorative coins include the 2008 Nelson Mandela 90th birthday coin and the 20th anniversary of democracy coin, issued in 2014.

The R5 coin features an image of the original 1815 Griquatown coin, engraved with the words "Coinage of Griqua Town 200. 1815 – 2015". The other side of the coin bears the South African coat of arms and the acronym, SARB.

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