The R1 Gold Commemorative Coin Series has been depicting major cultures of South Africa since 1998.

The obverse of this 2009 coin portrays the new South African Coat of Arms and the reverse depicts a Northern Sotho (Bapedi) woman cooking a meal in a three-legged pot over a fire. Traditional food includes "thopi" (fine maize cooked with water and a fruit called lerotse), "morogo" (spinach type of vegetable), samp and "maswi" (sour milk), "masonja" (mopane worms) and "machilo" (a type of fruit found on trees in the mountains).

Her ceremonial garb is described as "sotho", a term which emphasizes the traditional nature of her clothing. The designed wall in the background is typical of the multi coloured designs which decorates this culture’s houses and walls. Amongst the many other customs of this nation, "bogadi" (dowry) still plays an important role when a marriage is being arranged. The girl’s parents will decide on how many cows or how much money should be paid for her, thereafter the couple can live together.