Nadine Gordimer - 1991 Nobel Prize for Literature

The 2010 Protea Series depicts Nadine Gordimer who is a South African writer, political activist and Nobel laureate.

Nadine Gordimer was born on 20 November 1923 in Springs, a mining town outside Johannesburg. Her early interest in racial and economic inequality in South Africa was shaped in part by her parents’ own experiences.

She began writing stories at the age of nine and her first stories were published in 1937 when she was fifteen! Her first adult fiction was published when she was sixteen and she received her first major award in 1961. Literary recognition for her accomplishments pinnacled with the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991, which noted that "through her magnificent epic writing has – in the words of Alfred Nobel – been of very great benefit to humanity".

Nadine Gordimer’s writing has long dealt with moral and racial issues. She was active in the anti-apartheid movement and she was one of the first people Mr Nelson Mandela wanted to see after his release from prison in 1990! Always questioning power relations and truth, Nadine Gordimer weaves her stories of ordinary people to reveal moral ambiguities and choices. Her quest continues even today, being active in the HIV/AIDS movement which has become a significant public health focus area in South Africa.

This Protea Prestige Set portrays two current relief portraits of Nadine Gordimer on the R25 (1 oz), with one of her quotes "Art defies defeat by its very existence". The R5 (1/10th oz) depicts an image of Nadine Gordimer as she appears presently, together with another quote "Truth isn’t always beauty, but the hunger for it is". On the sterling silver R1, Nadine Gordimer is again depicted with another quote, "Responsibility is what waits outside creativity".

Protea Coin Specifications

Protea Prestige Set                               

Limited Edition: 1000

The Protea Proof Set consists of two 24 carat gold coins (R25, 1 oz and R5, 1/10 oz) and a sterling silver coin (R1) packaged together in a blue leatherette box. Each set issued has an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Single Coins

R25 (1 oz ) - Limited Edition: 2000

R5 (1/10 oz) - Limited Edition: 3000

R1 Sterling Silver - Limited Edition: 3000

R1 Sterling Silver (unc) - Unlimited

Each single Protea coin is packaged in a blue leatherette box together with a individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Certificate of Authenticity

This Certificate of Authenticity guarantees the quality and authenticity of the coins made by the South African Mint Company.
Each coin and coin set issued by the South African Mint Company has a Certificate of Authenticity. The certificate describes the coin’s specifications, the year, the limited edition as well as a short description of the product. It also depicts the signature of the South African Mint’s Managing Director, Mr Andile Mvinjelwa. To prevent the duplication of a South African Mint product, the certificates are re-designed each year to include the coin design and each certificate is individually numbered according to the limited edition of the coin or set. As another security measure, the South African Mint’s logo, which is printed in transparent ink and only visible under ultra-violet light, features as part of the layout.