Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba has approved the release of the Nelson Mandela R5 coin, to commemorate what would have been his centenary year on July 18, 2018. But don’t worry about keeping it as a collector’s item – it’s still only worth R5.
The coin will feature South Africa’s coat of arms on the obverse. On the reverse is a portrait of Mandela featuring the years 1918 and 2018.
Commenting earlier this year on commemorative coins, the Reserve Bank said: “If you receive one of these coins as change, please do not hold on to it. Use it to make a purchase so that the next person can also experience the beauty of the coin.”
“For example, the commemorative R5 Nelson Mandela circulation coin that was issued in 2008 to celebrate the former president’s 90th birthday was, and is still, worth R5. There could be a buyer willing to pay a higher price to collect such a commemorative circulation coin but the Reserve Bank does not attach a value higher than the face value to such coins.”