Nobel Peace Prize Winners Series
2007 - de Klerk and Mandela

The Protea series commemorates various aspects and important events in the history of South Africa.  In 2005, a theme celebrating the "Nobel Peace Prize Winners of South Africa" commenced with Chief Albert Luthuli as the first of South Africa's Nobel Peace Prize winners.  Archbishop Desmond Tutu was featured on the 2006 Protea coins and the joint Nobel Peace Prize winners, Mr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and Mr Frederik Willem de Klerk will complete this theme in 2007.  An extra 1/10oz gold coin and silver R1 coin will be added to the set, allowing both winners to feature separately.  Therefore the series will consist of 5 coins in 2007.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 1993 to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk for their contribution for the peaceful termination of apartheid and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa. Despite their different points of view, Mandela and de Klerk had reached an agreement for a transition to a new political order based on the tenet of one man-one vote. Through their common vision of reconciliation and not by looking back at the past, they had shown personal integrity and great political courage. Their constructive strategy of peace and reconciliation also pointed the way to the peaceful resolution of conflicts elsewhere in the world.

The previous Nobel Laureates Albert Luthuli and Desmond Tutu made important contributions towards racial equality in South Africa.  Mandela and de Klerk took the process a major step further.  The Nobel Peace Prize for 1993 was jointly awarded to these two South African leaders in recognition of their efforts and as a pledge of support for the forces of good, in the hope that the advance towards equality and democracy would reach its goal in the very near future.  This became a reality in 1994 with the formation of a new democratic South Africa.

When Nelson Mandela bade farewell to Parliament five years after he was sworn in as South Africa's first democratically elected President, he urged South Africans never to forget their past, but to use it as a tool in overcoming the challenges still facing the country.  FW de Klerk, who retired from politics in 1997, praised all South Africans for their role in bringing about change in the country, asking them to join hands for further socio-economic transformation, saying the challenges were still huge.

This Protea coin series celebrates the Nobel Laureates of South Africa and the role they played in successfully transforming South Africa into a vibrant, democratic nation

BACKGROUND ON THE SERIES

Due to the popularity of the Krugerrand, a second gold collectors’ coin, the PROTEA series was introduced by the South African Mint in 1986. The King Protea is portrayed on the obverse of the coin while the reverse themes change annually. Arthur Sutherland, chief die-sinker of the South African Mint modeled the popular design. In 1988 three different Protea coins were issued and the Protea Repens (Sugarbush), Surruria Florida (Blushing Bride) and Protea Multibraetaeta (Bearded Protea) were chosen.

Since the year 1989, the King Protea has appeared on the obverse of the Protea coin series. Initially, the coins were issued in 22 carat gold, but since 1997, the gold Protea coins have been issued in 24 carat gold. Important social issues have been portrayed on the reverse of these popular coins since 1996. Protea coins are available in proof quality 1 oz and 1/10th oz pure gold as well as R1 sterling silver (1 oz). Like all proof coins, these artistic pieces have a limited yearly mintage and have become a much sought after series by international coin collectors.

The first Protea coin was minted in 1986. Since 1999 the theme of these popular coins has paid tribute to various South African industries. The Mining Industry was the first theme in 1999, followed by the Wine Industry in 2000, the Tourism Industry in 2001, Soccer in 2002, Cricket in 2003 and the Ten Year Anniversary of a Democratic South Africa in 2004. These Protea coins consisted of a 1 oz (R25) and 1/10 oz (R5) gold coins as well as a R1 crown size silver coin.

COIN SPECIFICATIONS

The Protea legal tender coins are issued as limited edition singles or in sets in proof quality. The R1 silver coin is also available as an uncirculated coin (bullion)

ARTIST  
Natanya van Niekerk – Assistant General Manager : Numismatics and Chief Artist at the South African Mint has designed the 2007 Protea series.

ENGRAVERS  
The obverse design for the three coins was engraved by the South African Mint’s former chief die-engraver, AL Sutherland.  N van Niekerk (R25), MJ Scheepers (R5 Mandela, R5 de Klerk & R1 Mandela) and AM Minnie (R1 de Klerk) engraved the reverse for the 2007 Protea coins.