1 cent coin South Africa (first decimal type) – 1961

Obverse

The obverse of the coin features the portrait of Johan Anthoniszoon van Riebeeck, known as Jan van Riebeeck (1619-1677), Dutch colonial administrator and founder of Cape Town and considered by many people to be the founding father of the South African nation. The designer’s initials WM (for Willie Myburg) are incuse on the shoulder truncation.

Around left, the motto UNITY IS STRENGTH in English; separated from that by two decorative rosettes, around right the same in Afrikaans: EENDRAG MAAK MAG.

Obverse Inscription

UNITY IS STRENGTH * EENDRAG MAAK MAG *

Reverse

The reverse shows at its centre a covered wagon as used by the Voortrekkers (Boer pioneers) as they performed their Great Trek in 1836. On the ground below right, in small letters the initials of the reverse designer HM (for Hilda Mason).

Around left, the name of the country in English: SOUTH AFRICA; around right, the name in Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKA. Above that, the date · 1961 ·.

Below, flanked by two rosettes, the value and denomination * 1 c. * (one cent).

Reverse Inscription

SOUTH AFRICA · 1961 · SUID-AFRIKA * 1 c. *