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2 1/2 Cents 1st decimal series
| Issuer | South African Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1961-1964 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Right-facing draped bust of Jan van Riebeeck, founder of the Cape Colony, rendered in high relief with period costume and lace collar detail. The portrait is centrally positioned within the field, occupying most of the coin's face. A bilingual circular legend surrounds the bust, reading 'EENDRAG MAAK MAG' (Afrikaans) and 'UNITY IS STRENGTH' (English), separated by ornamental devices. The designer's initials 'WM' appear within the legend. The rim is defined by a beaded border. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | 1961 - Hern#R10 - 292,000 1961 - Hern#R10; Proof - 7,530 1962 - Hern#R11 - 8,745 1962 - Hern#R11; Proof - 3,844 1963 - Hern#R12 - 33,000 1963 - Hern#R12; Proof - 4,025 1964 - Hern#R13 - 14,000 1964 - Hern#R13; Proof - 16,000 |
| Additional information |
South Africa's decimal conversion on 14 February 1961 — "Decimal Day" — replaced the pound system with the rand, and this tiny denomination was part of that inaugural series. The 2½ cent was almost immediately recognized as impractical, an awkward fraction surviving only because price structures during the transition still demanded it. The series ran just four years before the denomination was quietly discontinued.
The .500 fine silver content reflects a deliberate cost-reduction from pre-decimal standards, not a wartime compromise.