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1/10 Protea South African Constitution
| Issuer | South African Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1996 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | 16.5 mm |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The central design depicts an open book symbolising the new South African Constitution, with a hand holding a pen in the act of signing, rendered in detailed relief. Surrounding the book, a ring of stylised human figures joins hands, representing the unity of the diverse population of South Africa. The word PROTEA arcs above the central motif, and the denomination 1 RAND appears below the book in the lower field. The engraver's initials SE are incorporated into the design field. The overall composition conveys the historic significance of the signing of the post-apartheid Constitution. |
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| Additional information |
The 1996 Constitution coin was issued to mark the adoption of South Africa's final post-apartheid constitution, which came into force on 4 February 1997 after being certified by the Constitutional Court. The drafting process was extraordinary — a two-year negotiated framework involving public submissions from ordinary citizens, producing one of the most detailed rights-based constitutions ever written at that point.
The Protea bullion series had been running since 1986, but the commemorative issues within it were explicitly tied to political milestones of the transition period. Mintages for this type were modest and largely absorbed by collectors rather than the secondary gold market.