ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · CZ: Česká národní banka (ČNB) EN: Czech National Bank (CNB) · Public domain
Union Crown
South Africa
1923–1931
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$35.90
Based on Silver spot price ($78.96/oz) · 50.0% purity · 28.28g
Updated 10:08 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | South Africa |
| Years Minted | 1923–1931 |
| Composition | 50% silver |
| Weight | 28.28 g |
| Diameter | 38.61 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Crowned bust of King George V facing left.
Reverse
South African coat of arms with supporters.
History & Notable Facts
The 1923 Union Crown was the first South African coin to depict the springbok, a national emblem that has graced currency ever since.
That design choice reflected the new Union's push for distinct identity, moving away from British influences. The coin's reverse showed two springboks flanking the coat of arms, struck in .500 fine silver on blanks sourced from the Pretoria mint. Earlier issues faced production hiccups; records suggest some 1923 pieces were restruck due to initial errors, though exact figures vanished in archival mishaps.
Weights varied slightly, with the standard at 28.28 grams, but proofs are rarer than hen's teeth. Minting ended in 1931 as economic shifts favored smaller denominations.
South African crowns like this one often get mixed up with their English counterparts, a confusion that's as persistent as it is misguided.
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