Numismatic

1960 South Africa Silver 5 Shillings BU (South African Union)

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Struck in 1960, this silver five-shilling coin marks a significant milestone in South African history, celebrating the fifty-year jubilee of the Union of South Africa. Produced at the Pretoria Mint, this issue represents a moment of reflection on the country's mid-century path. With a mintage of 396,000 pieces, each coin contains 0.4546 troy ounces of actual silver weight, crafted from a 0.500 fine silver alloy. The obverse of the coin showcases the grand architecture of the Union Buildings located in Pretoria, flanked by the commemorative years of 1910 and 1960. This design captures the political heart of the nation during its golden jubilee. The inscriptions read "UNITY IS STRENGTH" alongside the Afrikaans equivalent "EENDRAG MAAK MAG", framing the historic structure. On the reverse side, an intricate quartered shield serves as the focal point, representing the diverse provinces that joined to form the union. The year of manufacture is positioned above the shield, while the denomination of five shillings is noted below. This piece remains a fascinating study in mid-century South African numismatics, cataloged by collectors as KM-55.