The Venda People R1 Gold Series

South Africa's fascinating peoples and their cultures are honored on this R1 (1/10 oz) pure gold coin series. The Venda people feature in 2004.

The reverse of this year's R1 Cultural coin depicts a group of Venda women doing the “domba”(snake) dance. This dance symbolizes the movement of a python, which Venda traditionalists associate with fertility and characterizes the “dombani” - the third initiation school that young traditional Venda girls attend. By tradition, Venda girls must also attend the “vhusha” at puberty and the “tshikanda” intermediary school.

The new Coat of Arms with the words “South Africa” and “Afurika Tshipembe” (Tshivenda) as well as the year “2004” are depicted on the obverse of this coin.

ARTIST
Natanya van Niekerk – Marketing Manager and chief artist at the South African Mint designed the R1 gold coin.

ENGRAVERS
The obverse design was engraved by the South African Mint’s chief die-engraver, Arthur Sutherland. South African Mint resident die-engraver, MJ Scheepers engraved the reverse design.