SA Mint unveils Discovery of Gold coin in heart of Johannesburg

The South African Mint Company (SA Mint) has released the first in its 2014 Discovery of Gold Coin Series at an event held within sight of the city that has been the heart of gold production in South Africa for over a century.

The R2 Discovery of Gold coin was unveiled – fittingly as the golden sun set over Johannesburg – by Tumi Tsehlo, the Managing Director of the SA Mint, a wholly owned subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank. The unveiling took place at the Penthouse in Braamfontein and was attended by a selection of key stakeholders, SA Mint clients, partners and media.

“SA Mint is the foremost preserver of South Africa’s heritage, and we are very proud to offer our first Discovery of Gold coin set to collectors,” Tsehlo said.

“It’s fitting that we are launching this series in the heart of Braamfontein,” he added. “This space really reflects how a city that was built on gold has been able to move into the future and is now a hotbed of entrepreneurial spirit and creativity.”

The R2 Discovery of Gold coin has been designed to reflect South Africa’s unique relationship with the discovery, mining and manufacturing of gold.

The reverse of the coin depicts the various stages of gold production. In the background a prospector sifts for alluvial gold, while the gold miner in the foreground is dressed ready to descend a shaft. The obverse of the coin features South Africa’s coat of arms.

The launch of the R2 Discovery of Gold coin in the heart of Johannesburg was cause for reflection on the role of gold in the city. Since the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand in 1884, South Africa has produced over 52 093 240 kg (52 093 tonnes) of gold. Eight of the ten deepest mines in the world are also found around Johannesburg, including the TauTona Gold Mine in the West Wits region which has a mining depth of 3.9 kilometres.

Reflecting the youthful creative spirit that Johannesburg has spawned was a performance by The Soil – an award-winning acapella group hailing from Soweto that is currently also making waves internationally. They performed various hits drawn from their two records, Nostalgic Moments and The Soil.

The Soil was joined by Thabiso Afurakan Mohare, a Johannesburg-based street poet in providing the evening’s entertainment.

Mohare performed two poems written especially for the launch of the R2 Discovery of Gold coin. The first celebrated the City of Gold – from the discovery of gold to the present and into the future – and paid tribute to the role of the SA Mint’s collectable coins in telling South Africa’s stories and preserving its national heritage. Mohare’s second poem called ‘Dreamers’ was an uplifting celebration of the infectious, vibrant and energetic spirit of Jozi’s creative young people.

With a showcase of superb talent and a stunning new coin that celebrates both South Africa’s past achievements and promising future, the launch of the R2 Discovery of Gold coin truly encapsulates the reasons why Johannesburg has been named the second-most inspiring city in the world by the 2014 Good City Index.

The R2 Discovery of Gold coin is available for purchase to enable collectors to celebrate South Africa’s rich history with one of the world’s greatest treasures.

 

Leave a Reply

Canadian Coin News

Canada

Canadian Coin News is Canada's premier source of information about coins, notes and medals.

Although we cover the entire world of numismatics, the majority of our readers are Canadian, and we concentrate on the unique circumstances surrounding collecting in our native land.

Send Us Your Event

Running an event? Send it to us and we will display it on Canadian Coin News!

Submit Event →

Subscribe To 26 Issues For Just $59.99/year

Subscribe today to receive Canada's premier coin publication. Canadian Coin News is available in both paper and digital forms.

Subscribe Now

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.