In 1989 the South African Mint proposed a new coin series for South Africa and recommended a complete change to electroplated coins as a solution to the escalating costs of materials and manufacturing and the increasing risk of falsification.

The new series was divided into three different groups:

The remarkable South African flower, the Protea cynaroids was one of the first distinctive South African symbols that appeared on the tickey and sixpence coins from 1925 to 1960. With the introduction of South Africa's first decimal series (1961 - 1964) the Protea was again depicted on the 2½c and 5c coins which were designed by the die-cutter, Kruger Gray. With the second decimal coin series (1965 - 1989), an outstanding South African horticultural artist, Cynthna Letty was responsible for the artwork. The new Protea design depicted the Protea plant with three flowers in various stages on the nickel 20c coin. Die-sinker Tommy Sasseen modelled the design from the original watercolour painting which can be viewed at the South African Mint museum. In 1989 the third decimal coin series was introduced and the Protea was selected for the new bronze plated 20c coin. Die-sinker, Susan Erasmus developed the design from the first artwork. In 1996, the design underwent a slight modification to accommodate a larger "20c" numeral on the coin.

Specifications

Language rotation

2002 - English

2003 - Setswana

2004 - Sepedi/Sesotho

2005 - Afrikaana

2006 - isiXhosa

2007 - isiZuli

2008 - isiNdebele

2009 - Tshivenda

2010 - siSwati

2011 - Xitsonga