SA Mint Natura Series
– The Leopard Launch Release
30 SEPTEMBER 2014
SA Mint gives leopard conservation a boost with the launch of its latest gold coin in the multiaward winning ‘Natura Series’
As South Africa celebrates twenty years of democracy, SA Mint has paralleled this remarkable
journey by documenting the most significant milestones of the country’s cultural and natural
heritage. Now in its twenty first year, The ‘Natura Series’ introduces its latest collection entitled
‘Nocturnal Hunters’ that will debut with The Leopard Coin Collection .
A wholly owned subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), The South African Mint
Company (RF) (Pty) Limited known as SA Mint, has a proud tradition of coin production dating
back more than 120 years. While SA Mint is responsible for producing the country’s circulation
and legal tender coins, it also has an important legacy role, creating timeless value through the
craftsmanship of collectible gold coins that have become highly sought after commemorative
pieces and sound investments.
The advent of The Leopard Coin Series will continue a longstanding tradition by SA Mint to
support wildlife conservation through a portion of the proceeds generated. With the introduction
of each new themed coin into the ‘Natura Series’, SA Mint has partnered with an established
conservation initiative working to ensure the posterity of these creatures in the wild. The origins
of the ‘Natura Series’, celebrating South Africa’s diverse wildlife dates back to 1994 when the
iconic ‘Big 5’ Collection Set was first launched. With the introduction of the ‘Nocturnal Hunters’
Collection, the journey of the Leopard Coin Series project has proved as awe-inspiring and
evocative as the creature itself.
The Denomination Set includes four 24ct gold legal tender coins of varying size and
denomination that each depict typical iconic moments from a typical Life of a Leopard. To signify
the Leopard’s nocturnal nature, the largest R100 (1 oz) coin is embossed with a Leopard portrait
enclosed in stylised branches under the glow of a full moon. The R50 (½ oz) coin shows a mating
pair, the R20 (¼ oz) coin carries the iconic image of a leopard dragging its prey up a tree, while
the smallest of the four coins representing the R10 (1/10) oz shows a curious pair of leopard cubs.
The obverse of each coin depicts a snarling leopard designed by MJ Scheepers.
To give credence to its conservation legacy, SA Mint has elected to partner with the Cape Leopard
Trust (CLT). While leopard populations are relatively secure in protected areas such as Kruger
National Park and Sabi Sands, leopards in areas of increasing agricultural and human activity
have suffered. For the past ten years, CLT has worked tirelessly to monitor and document
leopard activity in the remote mountain regions of the Cederberg, more recently the Cape
farmlands of the Boland and the Karoo region of Gouritz where their habitat has become
increasingly fragmented.
Led by Dr Quinton Martins, The Cape Leopard Trust has been a pioneering force for
understanding leopard ecology and behaviour in the Western Cape where they originally
occurred before being persecuted for nearly a century by colonial hunters. CLT has been
instrumental in engaging local farmers and communities and seeking out collaborative solutions
to human-wildlife conflict. Since 2004, more than 30 individual leopards have been successfully
collared in the Cederberg and Boland regions, allowing researchers to track their movements,
and more than 300 camera traps have helped to capture evidence of these stealthy and elusive
creatures.
The Cape Leopard Trust also runs a very successful environmental education and outreach
programme that invites youth groups from neighbouring communities to camp on the reserve
and participate in monitoring tasks. For many of the children coming from disadvantaged
backgrounds, this wilderness experience is their first trip away from home and often makes a
lifelong impact on them to develop a connection with nature and go on to become ambassadors
for conservation.
To mark the partnership between SA Mint and Cape Leopard Trust, the 600 Limited Edition 24ct
(1oz) coins were overstruck on site in the Cederberg with a unique hallmark bearing a leopard’s
paw print and accompanied by a ‘CLT’ hallmark. The overstriking took place in a sandstone cave
where several well-preserved examples of early Khoi and San rock art dating back thousands of
years remain intact. This majestic site overlooking the Tankwa Karoo is situated on the farm
Bakkrans that forms part of the greater Cederberg Conservancy and is renowned for its high
biodiversity and archaeological heritage.
An antique cast-iron fly press similar in design to the model used to make the notorious
‘veldponde’ during the Anglo Boer War was used to make the impression.
The inaugural Leopard Coin Series was unveiled in Cape Town on the 30th September, marking
the final day of South African Heritage Month. Guests were treated to an illustrious event at the
Ideas Cartel - a contemporary gallery space, where photographs of the minting process together
with first account stories was given. The audience were also the first to view a dedicated
promotional video produced for the Cape Leopard Trust that will be broadcast internationally to
raise awareness of the organisation’s work.
A culinary adventure followed at Hemelhuijs, where Chef Jacques Erasmus prepared a bespoke
menu inspired by these gold coins, and the colours, textures and indigenous produce of the
Cederberg region, the home of the Cape Mountain Leopard. Tasting notes included rooibos
infusions, Karoo Lamb scented with Wild Rosemary, Springbok Carpaccio and Orange-Blossom
Honey and navel oranges that have been farmed in Citrusdal since the early 1900s. A Leopardinspired dish of Sandveld Potato Gnocchi with Smoked Aubergine and Blackened Quail was
introduced that will become a Signature item on the restaurant’s Spring Menu. All dishes were
expertly paired with Leopard’s Leap Wines who have been a long-time supporter of Cape
Leopard Trust.
An art installation designed by Erasmus and local artist Maria Van Gas delighted guests with a
life-size Leopard Sculpture clad in toast mosaics as did the ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ that brought
living pieces of the Cederberg such as rock pieces, renosterveld and wild grasses, into the venue
and allowed guests the first glimpse of the gold Leopard Coin.
The pinnacle of the evening was the opening of the Online Auction at www.legacylive.co.za where
patrons and collectors globally can bid for number 001 of the Limited Edition Leopard Coin
launch set. The auction will run until the 15 November 2014, where the winning bidder will
acquire 001/300 beautifully packaged in a handcrafted wooden gift box, and accompanied by a
bronze alloy cast of a life size leopard’s tooth and claw designed by S Rautenbach.
The winner will head to Cape Town to collect their coin and also receive two luxurious night’s
stay at Bushmanskloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat situated outside Clanwilliam.
Bushmanskoof is an award winning five star retreat in the Cederberg, regarded as one of the
most progressive ecotourism destinations in South Africa. Bushmanskloof who have led a
reforestation programme of the endangered Clanwilliam Cedar Tree for more than ten years, will
plant a tree on behalf of each of the guests to ensure that the event is carbon neutral.
SA Mint has undertaken to donate 3.5% from the sale of the 600 mint mark coins to the Cape
Leopard Trust as well as 100% earned through the online auction sale of coin ‘001/300’. This
significant donation will be used to grow the Cape Leopard Trust’s educational outreach
programme and will allow hundreds more children from poor neighbouring communities to
participate in wilderness camps.
Linking legacy with conservation - www.legacylive.co.za
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Media Contact:
Samantha Manclark
sam@abetterworld.co.za
082 556 5188
SA Mint Sales & Marketing:
Lesego Kamasha
numismatics@samint.co.za
+27 12 677 2478 / 2482
About the SA Mint
The South African Mint is one of the world’s leading mints and over the years has earned a
worldwide reputation for its appealing designs, exceptional craftsmanship and the high standard
of its quality coins, winning numerous international awards in the process. The Mint is a wholly
owned subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), established in accordance with the
SARB Act, which authorises the SARB to ‘coin coins or cause coins to be coined’. The Mint is
made up of two divisions: circulation coins (CC), Numismatics (Nums) or collectable coins, the
CC division manufactures the legal tender coins that we use in our everyday transactions, as well
as coin blanks, which are sold to customers for minting. Over and above producing all South
African Coinage, it also produces circulation coins for the export market, minting the coins that
are used as currency in numerous countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America