2003 - The Rhinoceros - Strength of Africa, Big Five series, Sterling Silver Poof Coins

THE DESIGN

The four silver coins share the same obverse that depicts the new South African coat-of-arms, the year “2003” and the words “South Africa”. Due to international numismatic influence, it was decided that this series should feature the coat-of-arms on the common obverses, instead of the dominating male animal as was featured in the past three themes.

The reverse of the 50c (2-oz) depicts a southern African white rhino bull (Ceratotherium simum simum) encased in a design element symbolising its horn together with the face value of the coin of 50c. The reverse of the 20c (1-oz) depicts a mother rhino nudging her sitting baby. Two horn design elements encompass the picture. The face value of 20c is also featured. On the 10c (1/2 oz) coin reverses, two Southern Black rhinos (Diceros bicornis minor) face each other. Two “horn” design elements surround the animals and the face value of “10c” is depicted. The reverse of the 5c (1/4 oz), two white rhinos drinking at a pool of water are depicted. A design element depicting a horn is modelled on the left of the coin with the face value of “5c” also featured.

THE ANIMAL
Rhinos first evolved over 40 million years ago from animals that looked similar to tapirs. Prehistoric ancestors of the rhinoceros include Indricotherium and Paraceratherium, hornless giants that may have weighed up to 20 tons. Today five species of Rhinoceros roam the earth and all are considered to be amongst the world’s most endangered and vulnerable creatures. Of these five species both the southern African white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum) and the southern African black rhino (Diceros bicornis minor) are featured on the 2003 Wildlife coin series.

The southern white rhino, rescued from near extinction in the last century, stands as one of South Africa’s greatest conservation success stories. Statistics state that approximately 100 rhinos were left in 1895 but by the year 2000, the rhino population had increased to just over 10,400 animals (94% of which are in South Africa). The white rhino is the largest of all rhino species, reaching a weight of over three metric tons. This relatively placid animal is legendary for its poor eyesight, but its senses of smell and hearing are acute. It has a broad square mouth with a straight upper lip designed for grassing. Unlike the white rhino, the black rhino is half as heavy and far more aggressive. It has a hooked upper lip to enable it to grasp vegetation from trees and bushes. On the verge of extinction there are approximately 1500 southern black rhino surviving. Both species are legendary for their poor eyesight, but their senses of smell and hearing are acute. Although rhinos look clumsy they can charge at speeds of up to 50 km/h.

ARTIST
Lilian Guerra, resident artist at the South African Mint designed the four wildlife coins.

ENGRAVERS
The obverse design for the coins was engraved by the South African Mint’s chief die-engraver, Arthur Sutherland. South African Mint resident die-engravers, Cecil Moses, Marthinus Scheepers and Paul Botes engraved the reverse designs.