Owner Comments:
Joint Finest Known PFUC! (1/7)
Total Graded: 73
Mintage: 13,183
This commemorative One Rand silver coin marks the Centenary (100th anniversary) of Johannesburg.
Johannesburg (Zulu and Xhosa: eGoli) is the largest city in South Africa and one of the 50 largest urban areas in the world. It is the provincial capital and largest city of Gauteng, which is the wealthiest province in South Africa. Johannesburg is the seat of the Constitutional Court, the highest court in South Africa.
The city was established in 1886 following the discovery of gold on what had been a farm. Due to the extremely large gold deposit found along the Witwatersrand, within ten years, the population had grown to 100,000 inhabitants. In 1986 (when the coin was issued), its population was close to 2 million.
Obverse
The obverse of the coin displays the Coat of Arms of South Africa at its centre, as granted to the Union of South Africa by King George V and later amended by the British College of Arms. It contains representation of the four provinces within the Union.
The Coat of Arms features a shield quartered, each quarter a symbol of one of the four provinces of South Africa. An ox wagon represents Transvaal Province, a woman with an anchor represents Cape Province, two wildebeests represent Natal Province and an orange tree represents the Orange Free State Province. The crest of the arms features a lion holding four bound sticks. The supporters are a springbok and a gemsbok. Below the arms, the Latin motto, EX UNITATE VIRES (translated at first as "Union Is Strength", but from 1961 translated as "Unity Is Strength").
Around left, the name of the country in Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKA; around right, the name in English: SOUTH AFRICA.
Below, the date of issue: * 1986 *.
Below the Coat of Arms on the left side, in small letters the initials of the designer ALS (for Arthur Sutherland).
Reverse
Symbolizing the historical development of the city, in the foreground of the reverse is a miner panning for gold in a stream. Behind, mine gear, sheds, and a mine dump. Behind that, an outline of the modern Johannesburg skyline.
Below the miner and to the right, in small letters, the designer's initials LV (for Linda Vermeulen).
Around above, the inscription 1886 JOHANNESBURG 1986.
Around below, EEN RAND ONE (the value and denomination, Een Rand in Afrikaans and, mirror-like, One Rand in English).