![]() The reverse designs on these coins are based on some of the fundamental human rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, namely Children’s Rights, Right to Education, Environmental Rights, Freedom of Movement and Residence and Freedom of Religion, Belief and Opinion. After deliberating with South Africans from all walks of life and from all backgrounds who were born during this time, it was decided that this commemorative coin range would portray some of these rights as contained in the Bill of Rights. It enshrines the rights of all people in the country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa is the supreme law, with the Bill of Rights being the cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. This commemorative coin range was then developed, giving everyone an opportunity to reflect on our diverse identity as a country. South Africans were consulted on their interpretation of democracy and freedom and shared the symbols that they associate with these values. To reinvigorate national pride, the South African Mint released the SA25 themed coin range under the series ‘Celebrating South Africa’. The title ‘Cradle of Humankind’ is well deserved because more hominin species have been discovered in South Africa than any other country in the world.Įvery coin in this series is a miniature ambassador that tells the story of the origin of humans and South Africa as the birthplace of humankind.Ģ019 CELEBRATING SOUTH AFRICA – 25 YEARS OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY: SA25Ģ019 marks a monumental 25 years of Constitutional Democracy for the nation of South Africa. Of all the countries in the world, no one can tell the story of human origins better than South Africa. Thus Africa can be regarded as the birthplace of humankind and therefore everyone on earth can trace their ancestry back to Africa. These fossils also represent more hominin species than those found in any other country in the world. These species are represented by the hundreds of thousands of fossils that have been discovered in virtually every province in South Africa, which are far more than the hominin fossils that have been discovered in the rest of the world put together. Hominin species refer to any member of the family tree that split from the common ancestor we share with chimpanzees and ultimately ended with the appearance of humans, while the term hominid is used to include humankind and the chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla and orangutan. ![]() The second instalment of the palaeontology theme features the ‘Cradle of Humankind – hominids’. The next step of evolution, which saw the rise of the dinosaurs, crocodiles and pterosaurs, was imminent. The Archosauriforms evolved at the end of the Triassic, finally taking over the last enclaves of synapsid domination. The Archosauria- crocodiles, pterosaurs, dinosaurs and birds- or the ruling reptiles, were magnificent beasts which ruled over the land and sky for 180 million years, from the Triassic to the Cretacecous periods. This 12 km thick layer of sedimentary rock was set down over a period of almost 120 million years when South Africa was still part of southern Gondwanaland. The Karoo supergroup of South Africa is one of the geological wonders of the world. In this first instalment of the palaeontology-themed coins, the focus is ‘Rise of the dinosaurs – Archosauria’ over the five 24ct gold coins. 2019 | NATURA – PALAEONTOLOGY: The rise of the DinosaursĪ new chapter in the award-winning Natura series begins with the introduction of palaeontology, in recognition of South Africa’s significance to this field and study of plant and animal fossils.
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