Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Union of South Africa
2½ Shillings
南非聯邦
2½先令
Item number: A25
Year: AD 1941
Material: Silver
Size: 32.3 x 32.3 mm
Manufactured by: South African Mint
Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2023
This 2½ shilling denomination issued by the Union of South Africa in the year AD 1941. The obverse side features a profile portrait of King George VI, the reigning monarch of the Union at that time, designed by T.H. Paget. The inscription “Rex Imperator” on the obverse denotes the Latin title bestowed upon the British monarch after India became a direct colony, signifying the dual role of “King and Emperor.”
On the reverse side, the national name is inscribed in both English and Afrikaans. The shield-shaped emblem on this side incorporates the provincial symbols of the four constituent colonies of the Union. These symbols, arranged clockwise from the upper-left corner, represent the colonies of Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Orange Free State, and Transvaal.
The antecedents of the Natal, Orange Free State, and Transvaal colonies trace back to the white republics established by Afrikaner settlers in the 19th century. Referred to as Afrikaners or Boers, these individuals originated from Huguenot Protestant immigrants from the Netherlands and France who arrived in the 17th century. The discovery of abundant gold and diamond reserves within the boundaries of these republics prompted the British Empire, based in Cape Town, to initiate two Boer Wars (AD 1880-1881 / 1899-1902), resulting in their annexation and consolidation into the Union of South Africa.
Following the end of the World War II, a politically ascendant Afrikaner-centric party, emphasizing white supremacy assumed power, and promptly implemented stringent racial segregation policies domestically. This regime persisted until AD 1994 when the African National Congress, led by Nelson Mandela, emerged victorious in the African National Congress, marking the definitive end of the apartheid era.