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1 Rand Great Trek
| Issuer | South African Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1988 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse features a stylized wagon wheel in the lower portion of the field, with a large sweeping spiral arrow curving around and above it, symbolizing the journey and legacy of the Great Trek of 1838. The commemorative dates 1838 and 1988 are boldly inscribed to the right of the central motif, marking the 150th anniversary of the event. The legend GROOT TREK arcs along the upper periphery in prominent raised lettering. The denomination EEN RAND ONE is inscribed along the lower arc of the coin in bold capital letters. The overall design, executed by Gert Richards, conveys movement and historical continuity through its dynamic composition. |
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| Additional information |
The Great Trek commemorative marks the 150th anniversary of the Boer migration inland from the Cape Colony beginning in 1838 — a movement driven by Afrikaner dissatisfaction with British administration, particularly the abolition of slavery in 1834 and the perceived inadequacy of compensation paid to slaveholders. By the late 1980s, the apartheid government was actively promoting Voortrekker history as ideological bedrock, and this coin arrived at a moment when that narrative was under increasing international pressure.
Hern lists this as D309 within a tight commemorative run; the .800 silver alloy was standard for South African commemoratives of the period rather than the finer .925 used on some earlier issues.