1 Rand SUID-AFRIKA

South Africa's shift to nickel-plated copper for the Rand coinage in the mid-1990s was a direct response to the rising cost of the nickel alloy previously used — a recurring problem for mints worldwide as base metal prices fluctuated sharply after the Cold War. The transition also coincided with the country's broader post-apartheid monetary reorientation, including the quiet phasing out of bilingual obverse labeling that had long reflected the political architecture of the previous government.

The KM#164 series spans a five-year window with mintage figures that vary considerably year to year, 1996 being the first year of issue for this composition type.