Gold Bullion 2 Rand Coin South Africa - Our Choice

Best Value South African Two Rand Gold Bullion Coins.

These coins have the same specification as a British gold sovereign. They are struck from 0.917 (22 carat) crown gold and contain 0.2354 troy ounces of the precious metal.

Gold bullion two rand coins were issued between 1961 and 1983. Your coin(s) will be chosen on an 'our choice' basis, meaning we can offer them at lower premiums. If you are interested in a particular date, please contact us so we can pick, grade and price the coin(s) for you.

Brief South African History

South Africa was first discovered by Bartholemew Diaz in 1488, but was not settled until 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company. Cape Colony was captured by Great Britain in 1795. In the Great Trek, the Boers moved northward starting in 1836, establishing the Transvaal in 1852, and Orange Free State in 1854. Discoveries of diamonds and gold in these regions led to the two Boer Wars from 1880 to 1902, leading to the incorporation of both areas into the British Empire. In 1910, Cape of Good Hope and Natal were also incorporated to form the Union of South Africa, a British dominion, which was recognised as a sovereign state in 1934.

South African Rand

Afrikaner unrest led to a referendum calling for relinquishment of dominion status, and South Africa became a republic on May 31st 1961. As part of this changeover, the country abandoned the pound as its currency and adopted the decimalised rand. The exchange rate was 2 rand to the pound, making 1 rand worth 10 shillings.

As such, the gold bullion 2R and 1R coins have exactly the same specifications as the British sovereign and half sovereign coins respectively.

The obverse features a portrait of Jan van Riebeeck who founded the first Dutch settlements in Africa and is also the founder of Cape Town. The inscription reads in Afrikaans and English:

EENDRAG MAAK MAG · UNITY IS STRENGTH

This was the official motto of South Africa until the year 2000.

The reverse features the iconic springbok designed by Coert Steynberg. The top of the coin bears the year and the bottom has the face value '2 R' (2 Rand). The inscription reads in Afrikaans and English:

SUID-AFRIKA · *DATE* · SOUTH AFRICA· 2R ·