1 Rand South Africa

The South African 1 Rand gold coin is struck in 22-carat gold (91.67% pure) and combines the now globally recognized springbok design with a distinctive Dutch touch thanks to the portrait of Jan van Riebeeck on the obverse.  He was the VOC commander who, in 1652, established the first European settlement at the Cape.

With a total weight of 3.99 grams and 3.66 grams of fine gold, the 1 Rand has the exact same weight and fine gold content as the well-known 1/2 British Gold Sovereign, which is why investors view it as an attractive and highly tradable alternative.

The gold 1 Rand was issued by the South African Mint between 1961 and 1983 and remains legal tender to this day. The coin was created as a high-quality circulation issue with the same technical specifications as the Sovereign, but with a distinctly South African identity. The reverse features the iconic springbok, also found on the world-famous Krugerrand. Thanks to its historical significance and instantly recognizable design, this coin is popular with both collectors and gold investors.

Delivery and Packaging

• Insured shipping or collection by appointment in Alkmaar, Rotterdam, or Tilburg
• Individually packaged in a protective plastic coin sleeve
• Secure, insured storage available via Holland Gold Safe

Why choose the South African 1 Rand

• 22-carat gold (91.67% pure)
• World-renowned, also among collectors
• Classic, historic design featuring Jan van Riebeeck
• Easy to sell thanks to its practical, convenient weight

Design

The obverse of the South African gold 1 Rand shows the portrait of Jan van Riebeeck, the VOC commander who arrived at the Cape in 1652 and is regarded as the founder of the European settlement that would later become Cape Town. Surrounding the portrait is the text “EENDRAG MAAK MAG”, South Africa’s national motto at the time the coin was issued.

The reverse depicts a springbok, South Africa’s national symbol, along with the inscriptions “1R” (1 Rand), “SUID-AFRIKA”, and the year of issue. The design was created by South African sculptor Coert Steynberg, the same artist who later designed the springbok motif for the Krugerrand.

The gold 1 and 2 Rand coins were produced from 1961 to 1983 by the South African Mint, with a gold content of 91.67% (22 carat). The 1 Rand had a fine gold weight of 3.66 grams. These coins predated the introduction of the Krugerrand—first struck in 1967—and laid the foundation for South Africa’s later bullion coinage. The 1 and 2 Rand were legal tender, but they were rarely used for everyday payments because from the moment they were introduced, their gold value exceeded their face value.

Price and Buyback Value

Looking to sell your gold coins? Holland Gold offers a buyback guarantee for this coin. We also purchase coins you didn’t buy from us. On our website, under the section “sell to us”, you can see what we pay for the coin.