“Different people unite” - for several decades now this motto has been relevant in South Africa. These words fully describe the essence and history of the Republic of South Africa. Many traditions, cultures and nationalities are intertwined here. The Republic occupies the tip of the continent of Africa, which confirms its name. By area, it is the largest state in the nearby territory. What is the currency in South Africa and when did it appear?
The appearance of the first national money?
The state was formed in the last century, in 1961. The national currency of South Africa was born with the republic. They called her rand. Full name - South African rand. Pronounced "RAND", not "RAND", as the word came not from English-speaking countries. The currency of South Africa, the name was borrowed from the famous Witwatersrand mountains. In the 19th century, gold ore was mined with hard work in their bowels and minted the first currency of the then Boer regions.
As you know, the currency of South Africa came into use in 1961, but now it is mostly used coins and banknotes of 2015 issue.
In international encoding - ZAR. In difficult times of colonization by Britain in the territory of the republic, the South American pound was the means of payment.
The modern currency of South Africa is coins and, of course, banknotes. It (rand) is one hundred cents.
South African coins of low denomination
A curious fact: in the republic there was a half-cent coin, right up to 1973. But due to the growing strength of inflation and the global crisis, monetary units with a face value of one and two cents have already been withdrawn from circulation, and in the near future five cents will be gone. And they can become a rarity, because a small batch of such coins with the image of Nelson Mandela was minted for the tenth anniversary of the first elections in a free country. Since 1994, this is the first time in the republic - the image of a statesman on money.
The modern currency of South Africa
Today, the national means of payment is represented by five paper banknotes - 10, 20, 50, one hundred and two hundred rand. Each with a bewitching design. Coins are represented in denominations of fifty, twenty, 10 and 5 cents and five, two, and one rand.
What do coins look like?
A five-cent coin is minted in steel coated with copper. On the obverse is the inscription: "Africa dzonga", under it is the national emblem. The reverse shows the face value and the image of the crane.
Ten-cent coins are similar to the previous ones, but on the reverse with the face value of aloe flower.
Twenty-cent coins are also made of steel with a copper coating, but the obverse with the emblem of the republic and the inscription "Africa borwa", the reverse depicts the denomination and the flower of protea.
Fifty-cent coins are also minted, and represent the motto "Africa borwa", with a coat of arms and an embossed denomination, next to a twig with pointed leaves. Sometimes you can find coins of the same analogue, but instead of a twig - a person playing cricket.
The currency in one rand is minted from copper, nickel-plated, on the front of the coat of arms and "South Afroca. Afrika-Dzonga", the antelope runs from the back and is placed face value.
Double -rand coins are made of copper, clad with nickel. The obverse is the same as the previous coin, reverse with a face value and a horn antelope.
And finally, a five-rand coin is issued in copper, clad with nickel, the obverse already says: "Iningizimu Afrika" and the image of Mandela, on the reverse side - the same antelope and face value. Sometimes you can find a coin of the same denomination, only bimetallic (a brass insert is ringed with an alloy of nickel and copper). Coin face: coat of arms and motto "Afrika dzonga. South Afroca", the reverse side repeats the analogue.
South African currency: paper notes look like this
A ten-rind bill of green hue, from the face - on a pale field a full-length rhinoceros family is depicted, the image of the head of a large rhino is clearly visible. On the other hand, beautiful views of the savannah of South Africa with running chamois.
A denomination of 20 rand is presented in orange-pink shades, the face is an elephant family in the background and the big head of a family leader, the reverse side is the structure of the transport arteries of South Africa.
A banknote of 50 rand in the same color shades, only from the face a lion pride in full growth and a large lion head on top of the background. The reverse side depicts factories and large factories of the republic.
The one hundred rand denomination is already made in orange and blue. The face of the bill represents a family pair of buffalo in the background, on top of which is the large head of the head of the family. The reverse side of the weave is the setting sun, and zebras against it.
And finally, two hundred rands. The color shades are the same. On the one hand, the leopard cub and against its background is the big head of the parent, on the other - the beauty of the desert of the country.
Currency exchange
It is best to go to South Africa with a credit card and cash out banknotes at ATMs. In large restaurants, hotels, shopping centers, you can pay by bank transfer. Currency can be exchanged at banks, airports, but the rate is not always profitable, therefore it is better to take care of the national currency of the country to which the tourist is going to go.
Conclusion
South Africa is one of the few countries that still mint gold coins. In the republic they are called krugerrandy. In free walking there are four equilibrium denominations. On the obverse is depicted P. Kruger, whose name they bear.