The National Anthem of South Africa

The 2009 Protea Series once again features a uniquely historical issue.

The South African National Anthem pulls together two anthems. Before South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, the country had two anthems – one official and one unofficial. The official anthem was Die Stem (The Call of South Africa) which was written as a poem by CJ Langenhoven in 1918 and set to music by a Reverend ML de Villiers in 1921 and became the accepted national anthem in 1957.

The unofficial anthem, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, was written and composed in 1897 by Enoch Mankayi Sontonga, a teacher at a mission station. It was originally written in isiXhosa as a hymn. Seven additional stanzas were later added by the poet Samuel Mqhayi and the song quickly became popular. In 1912, at the first meeting of the South African Native National Congress (forerunner of the African National Congress) it was sung after the closing prayer. The ANC adopted it as its official closing anthem in 1925 and the song became a symbol of independence and resistance during the struggle against apartheid. It is also interesting to note that Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika is still the national anthem of Tanzania and Zambia.

In 1994, the year of the first South African democratic election, the two anthems were merged into one! All three coins depict the two writers of the new anthem, CJ Langenhoven and Enoch Sontonga, interwoven and joined by musical notes of the first stanza of each of the combined anthems. It is an odd coincidence that both men were born in 1873 and both men became teachers.

Protea Coin Specifications

Protea Proof Set                               

Limited Edition: 5000

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: 6000

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

R1 Sterling Silver - Limited Edition: 6000

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.