South Africa's selection as the first African host of the FIFA World Cup was announced in May 2004, beating out Morocco and Egypt after a vote that famously came down to a single ballot. This coin was issued the year before the tournament as part of a broader precious metals program — the South African Mint produced gold, silver, and platinum denominations across multiple years leading up to 2010, making this one piece in a tightly coordinated commemorative series rather than a standalone issue.
The Hern reference Np14 places it within the "new precious" classification, reflecting its status as a non-circulating legal tender struck purely for collectors and investors.
South Africa's selection as the first African host of the FIFA World Cup was announced in May 2004, beating out Morocco and Egypt after a vote that famously came down to a single ballot. This coin was issued the year before the tournament as part of a broader precious metals program — the South African Mint produced gold, silver, and platinum denominations across multiple years leading up to 2010, making this one piece in a tightly coordinated commemorative series rather than a standalone issue.
The Hern reference Np14 places it within the "new precious" classification, reflecting its status as a non-circulating legal tender struck purely for collectors and investors.