Obverse. Photo © Monetnik.ru
  • 50 Kwacha 2011, Malawi, World Coin Bar Collection, 50th Anniversary of the Springbok
  • 50 Kwacha 2011, Malawi, World Coin Bar Collection, 50th Anniversary of the Springbok
Description

The Springbok first appeared on South African coins in 1947, designed by renowned sculptor Coert Steynberg, and has since become an iconic national symbol. Initially featured on silver crown-sized coins, the Springbok design was later used on gold one-pound, half-pound, R1, and R2 coins. It also appeared on the 50c coins (1960–1964) and the nickel R1 coins (1977–1990). The gold 1 and 2 Rand coins, minted between 1961 and 1983, featured Jan van Riebeeck on the obverse and the Springbok on the reverse, with 91.7% gold content. After 1983, these were replaced by silver coins, and smaller Krugerrand versions followed.

The Krugerrand, introduced in 1967, was created to promote South African gold internationally. Named after President Paul Kruger, it became the first coin to contain exactly one ounce of gold and was marketed as a way for private individuals to own gold. Although legal tender, the Krugerrand was primarily intended as an investment coin. Due to apartheid, it faced import bans in many Western countries during the 1970s and 1980s, which were lifted after South Africa's political reforms in the 1990s.

Obverse

Depicts gilded the iconic and widely recognized coins from leading global mints, Jan van Riebeeck head surrounded by the Britannia, Kookaburra, Maple Leaf, Panda, Libertad, and Austrian Philharmonic into one unique collection, the coat of arms of Malawi dividing the date, country name in Chichewa and denomination below.

The coat of arms of Malawi, derived from the heraldic arms of Nyasaland, features a lion and a leopard supporting a shield with the motto "Unity and Freedom." The shield displays a rising sun on a black field and a lion passant, with the flag reflecting similar elements. The crest includes a fish eagle rising above wavy water, while the supporters are a lion and a leopard, set against a depiction of the Mulanje Mountain.

0944/2950
20 11
UNITY AND FREEDOM
50 KWACHA
REPUBLIC OF MALAŴI

Reverse

Depicts a springbok walking left, the inscription of occasion above, the series title "World Coin Bar Collection", weight, purity and metal below.

50 YEARS GOLD RAND
INVESTMENT
WCB WORLD COIN
BAR COLLECTION
1 OUNCE (OZ) • .999 FINE SILVER
24 KT GOLD-PLATED

Edge

50 Kwacha

Republic

World Coin Bar Collection
50th Anniversary of the Springbok

Subscribe series
KM#
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.999
Weight 31.1 g
Diameter -
Width 32 mm
Height 66 mm
Thickness 2 mm
Shape rectangular
Alignment Medal

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