South Africa Is Getting New Coins In 2023; Here's What Changes

South Africa is all set to release the new Fourth Decimal Coin Series in January 2023. Here is a glimpse of what changes have been made to the designs.

The country's new coins will feature the word "South Africa" on one side, printed in all the official languages, and rotated annually over the next 10 years.

"Three languages will be used in the R5 coin; two languages on the R2, 50c, 20c, and 10 coins, and the R1 will be in one language," according to the statement.

The official languages are African, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu.

Additionally, some of the animals featured on the coins are set to change, according to the recently released designs.

The new two-tone R5 coin now features the southern right whale, instead of the buffalo. Meanwhile, the R2 coin has replaced the kudu with the springbuck and has changed its border to a more diamond-like shape. Lastly, the R1 coin has replaced the springbuck with South Africa's official flower, the protea, and now has a pentagonal shape.

The 50-cent coin is getting a makeover, with the bird of paradise being replaced by an actual bird - the loerie (turaco). The coin's border is also changing from a nonagonal (9-sided) to a hexagonal shape.

Meanwhile, the protea is being promoted to the R1 coin, leaving space on the 20-cent coin for another plant - aloe. The 20-cent coin's border is also changing from a nonagon to a heptagon (7-sided).

After years of the arum lily gracing the 10-cent coin, South Africa is bidding farewell to the flower in favor of the honeybee. The 10-cent coin will also be getting a new shape, with one side becoming an octagon.

Meanwhile, the R5 coin will keep its bi-metal alloy composition, while the R2 and R1 coins will be made from nickel-plated steel. The 50-cent and 20-cent coins will be bronze-plated steel, with the 10 cents coin being copper-plated steel.

The South African Mint has introduced a new coin series for only the fourth time since it began pressing coins in 1961. The current Third Decimal Coin Series was introduced in 1989.

The changes are significant, and they underscore the importance of regular updates to keep South Africa's currency relevant.

The current coinage system was introduced in 1989, featuring South Africa's heraldry on the coins alongside the country's name in both English and Afrikaans. Additional languages were added to the coins starting in 1995, and the current 1-, 2-, and 5-rand coins have carried the name in two languages on a rotating basis since 2002.

The Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the new dimension, design, and compilation of the coin on Aug. 31. The coins will become legal tender from Jan. 1, 2023.