For 50 years, the South African Mint issued its popular Krugerrand coinage only as a gold coin. The Gold Krugerrand debuted in 1967 and was the only gold bullion coin available for private investment for 12 years until the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf was issued in 1979. In 2017, the South African Mint celebrated the 50th anniversary of its popular Krugerrand coinage with the release of a Silver Krugerrand. This first-ever issue was originally intended to last only through the 50th anniversary celebration and was accompanied by a Proof Silver Krugerrand and Platinum Krugerrand.
Now though, the South African Mint is reacting to the immense popularity of a Krugerrand coin in a different metal. The mint recently issued the 2018 1 oz South African Silver Krugerrand Coin as an annual-release bullion coin. Get to know all about the new South African Silver Krugerrand.
About the 2018 Silver Krugerrand
The South African Mint and Rand Refinery combined forces to release the 2018 1 oz South African Silver Krugerrand coin. Unlike the 2017 Silver Krugerrand, these coins are part of a new legacy which will see the Silver Krugerrand issued on an annual basis. The coins include 1 Troy oz of .999 pure silver for a mass of 31.107 Grams and boast a diameter of 38.725 mm. Each coin is available for individual purchase inside of its own protective packaging, while multiples of 25 are available in tubes and multiples of 500 inside of mint boxes.
When it comes to the design, the 2018 Silver Krugerrand features the same obverse and reverse images from the Gold Krugerrand. On the coin’s two sides you’ll find:
- Otto Schultz’s 1984 depiction of Paul Kruger, President of the South African Republic and a leading figure in South Africa’s Boer resistance. The left-profile portrait of Kruger is surrounded by the nation of issue in Afrikaans and English as “Suid-Afrika” and “South Africa.”
- Coert Steynberg’s 1984 creation of the Springbok antelope, the official symbol of the nation, is featured on the reverse. The antelope is depicted prancing across the plains of southern Africa with “Krugerrand” engraved above, “2018” split on either side of the antelope, and the weight, metal content, and face value below. The metal content is etched twice as “Fynsilwer” in Afrikaans and “Fine Silver” in English. The weight is marked as “1 oz” and the face value as “R1.”
On both sides of the coin, there are 200 small serrations around the very edge of the design field. You’ll also notice on the reverse face of the 2018 Silver Krugerrand an engraving of the face value. Unlike the Gold Krugerrand, the Silver Krugerrand has an announced denomination of 1 Rand, the official currency of the Republic of South Africa.
Differences between 2017 and 2018
As you look into the South African Silver Krugerrands, you’ll notice a few differences in the release of the 2017 commemorative bullion coin and the new 2018 1 oz South African Silver Krugerrand. There’s only a slight change in the design between the two, with the 2017 coin bearing a small mint mark in the background denoting the 50th anniversary of the collection. The 2018 South African Silver Krugerrand features only the standard obverse and reverse design elements.
Other differences include the striking of the coins and the mintage. The 2017 coin, as a commemorative issue, had a limited mintage of only 1 million coins. The 2018 Silver Krugerrand has an unlimited mintage, allowing the South African Mint to produce the coins to meet demand from investors. You’ll also note the 2017 coin is considered Premium Uncirculated. This was a designation from the South African Mint which reflected its use of the “highest quality silver and laser-etched designs on the coins.” The 2018 1 oz South African Silver Krugerrands are available as traditional, brilliant uncirculated coins as any other annual release.
Buy 2018 Silver Krugerrands from JM Bullion
The 2018 1 oz South African Silver Krugerrand is currently available to you for pre-sale online at JM Bullion. Now’s the time to act and ensure you have the first-ever annual-issue of the Silver Krugerrand in your hands. We also encourage you to follow us on Facebook and read our blog weekly to keep up to date on precious metals news and product releases. If you have any questions, please contact us at 800-276-6508, chat with us live online, or email us directly.
