Union 2 Shillings

The 1923 Union 2 Shillings coin was the first to prominently display South Africa's coat of arms, a bold emblem of the nation's unification after years of colonial rule.

That design choice reflected a practical blend of British heritage and local pride, with the reverse side featuring the shield and supporters from the South African coat of arms, while the obverse bore the reigning monarch's portrait. Struck in .500 silver until 1947, then in cupro-nickel as metal became scarce, these florins circulated widely in everyday transactions. Variations exist, particularly in the portraits—from George V to George VI and Elizabeth II—but exact mintage figures for some years remain murky, lost in bureaucratic shuffles.

Edge lettering, a holdover from earlier British coins, reads "SUID-AFRIKA" and "SOUTH AFRICA" in a neat bilingual touch. If you're hunting one, check for the 1946 issue; it's scarcer than most, though not for the reasons collectors invent. Wars have a way of making coins vanish.