Collecting Siver R1 coins, 1965 to date.
By: P.H. Nortje (2025)
The monolingual series
Silver R1 coins were introduced as part of the 2nd decimal series in South Africa in 1965. The coins were struck in both English and Afrikaans up to 1969. Their obverses carry the busts of Jan van Riebeeck (1965, 1966 and 1968), Dr. H.F. Verwoerd (1967) and T.E. Dönges (1969).
Proof sets were issued in each of these years, but the coins, including the R1s, were only struck in one of the languages. However, so-called alternative language proof R1 coins were indeed struck in very low numbers making them rare being the 1965 (Afr.) 1966 (Eng.) 1967 (Eng.) 1968 (Afr.) and 1969 (Eng.).
Non-proof coins were struck in both languages, with the 1965 date being very rare and the 1968 issues not meant for general circulation but issued to collectors in so-called uncirculated mint packs.
The non commemorative issues
In 1969 the last of the monolingual silver R1 coins were struck. It was also the year when the SA Mint issued the last R1 coins struck in silver for general circulation. In 1970 a new design for the reverse of the R1 (showing the Coat of Arms) was introduced being a modification of the design depicted on the 1969 issue.
This design was kept up till 1990 when the last of the 2nd decimal issues were minted. (However in some of the years only commemorative issues were struck that will be discussed in our follow up part). From 1970 to 1976 non-proof silver issues were included in the so-called uncirculated mint packs.
Proof coins were struck in all years but for non-proofs, none were issued from 1977 to 1984 and only 21 coins in 1988 making this one of our country’s rarest coins with none graded by NGC so far.
The first Commemorative issues
The first silver R1 series were issued from 1965 to 1990 when the name was thereafter changed to the Protea series. In the first series, seven commemorative issues were struck, all in both proof and non-proof condition. All also carry the old South African Coat-or-Arms with the date on the reverse.
The R1 coins commemorated the following: - South African Mint 50-Years (1923-1973), South African Parliament 75-Years (1910-1985), Johannesburg 100-Years (1886-1986) and the Year of the Disabled (1986).
Last mentioned coin is unique as it’s the only SA coin where one side is struck incused. This means that the fields are the highest point on the coin, and the design details are struck “incused,” or indented, below the fields.
In 1988 three further issues were released commemorating the following: - Bartholomew Dias 500-Years (1488 - 1988), French Huguenots 300-Years (1688 - 1988) and the Great Trek 150-Years (1838 - 1988).
These three coins were also presented as a boxed proof set by the South African Mint.
The Protea issues
The first silver R1 series was issued from 1965 to 1990 when the name was thereafter changed to the Protea series. In the new series the coins were struck in .925 silver and not .800 silver and all years were produced by the Mint as both proofs and non-proofs.
With one exception, all the issues show a Protea on the reverse, the exception being the 1994 R1 commemorating the Presidential Inauguration. Various themes are commemorated included centenaries, sport, nature and Nobel Prize winners. It must however be said that Mahatma Gandhi, one of the greatest apostles of peace, depicted on the 2008 issue, was never awarded the Nobel Prize.
The issue of 1997 commemorating women, won the prestigious Krause Publications "Coin of the Year" award.
Due to so-called “frosting errors” some varieties of issues are considered rare (e.g. 1995 & 2008) and are eagerly sought after by collectors of the series. A variety was struck in 2011 commemorating the author JM Coetzee, with some issues carrying the Sydney (Australia) mint mark.
In 2013, although still called the Protea series, the Nelson Mandela commemoratives were introduced showing his face (and not the Protea) on the reverse with various themes from his life depicted on the obverse. In 2019, the last of the series was issued. The silver R2 crown carried on for 1 more year up to 2020 when that series was also halted.
The only silver R1s that are currently struck are the silver Krugerrand that was introduced in 2017. This is a very collectable series due to various privy marks in certain years.
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