The Numismatic Springbok
Pierre H. Nortje (December 2024)
The springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) is an antelope found mainly in south and southwest Africa. The name was first recorded in 1775, and comes from the Afrikaans words “spring” and ”bok” (jumping antelope).
In 1910, when the Union of South Africa was formed by the amalgamation of the Cape Colony, Transvaal Colony, Natal Colony, and the Orange River Colony, the official coat of arms of the Union depicted a springbok and an oryx (gemsbok) supporting the shield.
Although the design of the South African coat of arms was changed in 2000, the springbok remains the national animal of the republic up to this day. It is also the logo and mascot of South Africa’s national rugby team, the Springboks.
When the first coin series for the Union South Africa was introduced in 1923, the florin and half-crown pieces depicted the coat of arms on the reverse, but the two antelopes were not shown, probably due to artistic design and the limited space available on the flans.
Source: London Coins
With one single exception of a pattern coin (a R10 Florin of 1932 showing the full coat of arms), the first depiction of a springbok on a regular circulation SA coin was only in 1947. Our first union banknotes were issued in 1921, two years before our first coinage, but our coat of arms was not shown on these first issues. However, a springbok was indeed shown on some banknotes issued by private companies before 1921.
The Springbok on South African Bank Notes
The National Bank of South Africa Limited, was the forerunner of what is today know as First National bank (FNB). Between 1902 and 1929 it issued banknotes showing the names Bloemfontein, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria respectively in denominations of ten shillings up to 20 pounds. Notes for Cape Town were the uniform notes not showing the name. The 10 shilling issue of 1916 depicted a springbok on the reverse, as shown below.
The African Banking Corporation (1890 – 1920) also issued private notes for different cities in two series. The second series consisted of a 10 shillings, 1 pound, 5 pounds and 10 pounds. It is uncertain if a 20 pounds was issued. This 2nd series shows a grazing springbok on the centre of the obverse on the first three denominations while the 10 pounds shows three springbok.
The only other private South African bank that issued banknotes showing a springbok, from what we could find, was the Netherlands Bank of South Africa that carried the national coat of arms on both the obverse and reverse of their 10 shillings, 1 pound, 5 pounds and 10 pounds issues of 1918 to 1920.
As we have stated previously, the first official (reserve bank) banknotes for the Union of South Africa were issued in 1921. As we shall show, with one exception, the SA coat of arms was shown on many of the issues (not all) up to the late 1940s. After that, the springbok was only once more depicted on a union note, and on what must surely rate as one of the most beautiful banknotes ever issued by South Africa during any period
We must however interrupt ourselves by mentioning that between 1920 and 1926, the Union issued so-called gold certificates showing the springbok (on the coat of arms).
The picture below is from Prof. Francois Malan’s The Pretoria Sovereign (2024:45).
Returning to the regular Union bank note issues, as we have stated, the springbok was only shown when the official coat of arms was depicted, starting with the WH Clegg 10 Shillings in 1926 and ending with some of the MH de Kock issues in 1947.
Source: Bobshop
The last time that the coat of arms, although in a completely new and unofficial form, was shown on a Union note, was on the 100 pounds of 1952.
Source: Heritage Auctions
Regarding the banknotes of the Republic of South Africa, the Springbok was depicted on the R10 notes of 1966 up to 1976, the R20 note from 1961 to 1990 and the R50 note from 1984 to 1990. Here are some examples (The R20 depicting the coat of arms is not shown).
Source: Numista
The Springbok on South African Coins
In 1947, the Union of South Africa issued a 5-shilling coin to commemorate the visit of the British Royal family to our shores. The reverse, designed by Coert Steynberg, shows a springbok. With the exception of the 1952 and 1960 5-shilling issues, all the others had the same springbok reverse design. It was also used for the gold 10 shillings and one pound pieces that were struck from 1952 to 1960.
Source: Bobshop & EBay
In 1961, when the Republic of South Africa superseded the Union, the first decimal coin series (1961 – 1964) was introduced with the silver 50c and gold R1 & R2 showing the same reverse design as the silver 5-shillings and gold 10 shilling & one pound pieces. In 1965, when the 2nd decimal series was introduced, most (but not all) of the denominations depicted the coat of arms (showing the springbok) on the obverse and this continued until the new coat of arms was introduced in 2000. These issues will not be discussed in this paper.
In 1965, the first silver R1 was issued, showing a springbok, designed by A.L. Sutherland on the obverse and Jan van Riebeeck on the reverse.
When the last circulating silver R1s were issued in 1969, the springbok design was kept on both the non-circulating silver R1s and circulating nickel R1s (up to 1990).
When the new smaller R1s of the 3rd decimal series were introduced in the same year (1990), the same basic design, a jumping springbok, was kept, also designed by A.L. Sutherland.
In Herns’ Handbook of South African Coins & Patterns (2023/4: 448-451) three pattern coins depicting springboks are also catalogued. As the name suggests, these pattern coins were never put into circulation. The coin at the top is a bronze ½ cent piece, and the two others a 10c from the so-called “photo-set” on the left and a 10c struck in nickel.
In 1967, the first gold Krugerrand was struck showing the well-known Coert Steynberg design.
In 1980 fractional issues were also struck in 1/10th, ¼ and ½ oz. In 2017, the South African Mint introduced the first silver Krugerrand.
Earlier Krugerrand patterns struck in other metals (e.g. platinum, are also recorded).
As matter of interest, in 1960, the SA Chamber of Mines struck a 1 ounce gold medallion that many regard as the forerunner of the Krugerrand.
Source: Apmex.com
Source: Golden Eagle Coins
The most recent addition of the Springbok to our circulating coinage is the new (2023) R2. (The previous issue depicted a Kudu.). The designer was Themba Mkhangeli. A short write-up on him is currently posted on the website of the Western Cape Numismatic Society .
Source: SA Reserve Bank
However, a few commemorative (non-circulating) pieces showing a springbok, have been issued by the Republic over many years, and in this last section, we will take a brief look at some of these. As a first example, the R2 shown above was also struck in gold (1/10oz) as a limited series.
Regarding the silver commemorative R1 series, as far as we could find, the springbok was depicted three times: The coins being the R1s of 1992 & 1993 (both showing smaller versions of other SA coins) and the 2004 democracy issue displaying our national animal (Springbok) bird (Blue Crane) fish (Galjoen) and flower (King Protea).
Source: Bobshop
The 1992 and 1993 coins were also struck in gold and in both 1 and 1/10z but not the 2004 democracy issue.
Finally, regarding South African issues, the SA Mint produced a 5-piece gold set in 2007 as part of their Natura series. It commemorates Coert Steynberg’s design used for 70 years on our coins from 1947 to 2017.
The coins were struck in .999 gold. Being the R5 (1/20 Oz) R10 (1/10 Oz) R20 (¼ Oz) R50 (½ Oz) and R100 (1 Oz).
Source: Muntstuk International.
To conclude, although we have only touched upon coins and notes in this paper, it is interesting to note that the first time we could find, where a springbok was depicted on a South African piece, was actually a commemorative medallion. It was struck in 1906 for the Springbok rugby tour to Great Britain and France. Not the most artistic of designs, but a springbok nonetheless!
Source: southafricanmedals.com