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5 Cents Elephant - Strength of Africa
| Issuer | South African Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 2002 |
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| Currency | Rand (1961-date) |
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| Obverse description | A powerfully rendered African bull elephant advances in full frontal view, its broad ears spread wide and prominent tusks extending downward into the lower field. The animal is depicted emerging from a rocky, vegetation-strewn landscape, with large tropical leaves framing the upper portion of the design, lending a naturalistic depth to the composition. The legend 'SOUTH AFRICA' appears to the left of the elephant's body, while the date '2002' is positioned to the right, both rendered in a bold serif typeface within the mid-field. The engraver's initials 'ALS' are present in the lower right field. The overall design conveys a sense of monumental strength and wildlife realism characteristic of the Strength of Africa series. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | An African elephant is depicted in a three-quarter view to the left, reclining and bathing in shallow water, its head raised and trunk visible amid the rippling surface. Large tropical leaves fill the upper right portion of the field, creating a lush, naturalistic setting consistent with the broader Strength of Africa series design aesthetic. The denomination '5c' appears prominently in the upper left of the field in large, bold characters. The engraver's initials 'CM' for Cecil Moses are inscribed discreetly to the left of the design. The composition effectively captures a tranquil, intimate moment in the life of the elephant, contrasting with the powerful frontal stance depicted on the obverse. |
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| Additional information |
The "Strength of Africa" branding places this piece within the South African Mint's early 2000s wildlife bullion program, which ran alongside — but distinct from — the long-established Krugerrand series. The Mint launched these silver issues partly to compete with other national wildlife programs like Canada's Maple Leaf and Australia's Kookaburra, which had been drawing collector premiums away from South African product through the 1990s.
The Hern reference dates this precisely within a short-lived run. WL-series numbering in Hern's catalog reflects limited mintages with collector rather than circulation intent — this piece never saw a cash register.