Picked up yesterday from the bullion bin at my local coin shop, the South African crown of 1960, commemorating 50 years of the Union of South Africa, and depicting the Union Buildings in Pretoria, residence of the President and seat of the Executive branch of the country's government.
This piece is intriguing because, contrary to previous South African commemoratives, the monarch's portrait does not appear. This is probably to present the full armorial bearings, which incorporate those of the constituent members of the Union (Cape Colony with the anchor at top left), enlarged from their appearance on the two-shiling coin. (A different version of the same coat of arms appears on the half crown.) Of course, South Africa officially became a republic shortly after.


Edited by publius
Today 4H 6M ago