Coat of arms and country name in Afrikaans and English.

The coat of arms was granted by King George V by Royal Warrant on 17 September 1910, few months after the formation of the Union of South Africa.

It was a combination of symbols representing the four provinces (formerly colonies) that made up the Union:
• The first quarter is the figure of Hope, representing the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope.
• The two wildebeests of the second quarter represent the Colony of Natal.
• The orange tree in the third quarter was used as the symbol of the Orange Free State Republic.
• The wagon in the fourth quarter represented the Transvaal.
• The supporters are taken from the arms of the Orange River Colony and the Cape Colony.
• The lion holds four rods, bound together, symbolizing the unification of the four former colonies.

The motto, Ex Unitate Vires was officially translated as "Union is Strength" until 1961, and thereafter as "Unity is Strength".

Obverse engraver initials varieties exist:
• 1970-1983: T.S. below base of the coat of arms right-hand side (Tommy Sasseen)
• 1984: no engraver initials (Arthur Sutherland)
• 1985-1990: A.L.S. below base of the coat of arms left-hand side (Arthur Sutherland)

The Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) is a medium-sized antelope found mainly in southern and southwestern Africa.

"Soli Deo gloria" is one of the Reformers' five basic beliefs during the Protestant Reformation. It means "Glory to God alone".

The first Springbok appeared as long ago as 1947 as a true South African symbol on the silver crown size coins. The original design is still viewed as one of the best designs in the world. Based on the original artwork of one of South Africa’s famous sculptors, Coert Steynberg, the Springbok was used on various other South African coins. These were the gold one-pound and ½ pound coins, and later the gold R1 and R2 coins. From 1960 to 1964, the Springbok reappeared on the reverse of the 50c. This prancing buck was also chosen to be the symbol on the Krugerrand from 1967 to date. The Springbok was also depicted on the R1 nickel coins from 1977 – 1990.

Engraver: Jan van Zyl