Need change? Take a look at South Africa’s new-look coins for 2023

South Africa’s fourth decimal coin series will be recognised as legal tender from 1 January 2023. Here’s what they will look like…

By: Storm Simpson

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) gazetted the design, dimension and compilation of the fourth decimal coin series of South Africa on Friday, 25 November. The new-look coins will be recognised as legal tender from 1 January 2023.

NEW COINS FOR 2023

The South African reported that the government would introduce a new series in 2023 in August after the announcement was made during a virtual cabinet meeting.

Friday’s gazette revealed the design of the new money for the first time. The introduction of some new animals is the most noticeable change.

SPECIFICATIONS

Denomination	Metal content	Diameter	Mass
R5	Bi-metal alloy	26.00mm	9.5g
R2	Nickel plated steel	23.00mm	6.5g
R1	Nickel plated steel	20.00mm	5.0g
50c	Bronze plated steel	22.00mm	4.5g
20c	Bronze plated steel	19.00mm	3.0g
10c	Copper plated steel	16.00mm	2.0g

Another change is that the word South Africa will be minted on one side and printed in all our official languages.

“Three languages will be used in the R5 coin; two languages R2; 50c, 20c and 10c coins and the R1 will be in one language. All these languages will be used on an annual rotational basis over the next 10 years,” read the initial statement.

As previously reported, South Africa’s current coinage – the Third Decimal Series – was introduced in 1989. The country began minting its own coins with the First Decimal series in 1961.

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