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SA Union: Van Riebeeck Tercentenary: Festival

SA Union: Van Riebeeck Tercentenary: FestivalSA Union: Van Riebeeck Tercentenary: Festival
Form: Circular
By: South African Mint
Date: 1952
Ref:  AM2: 306; Laidlaw: 0250;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
28 mm22 ct Gold$410
28.5 mmSilver11.8 gm$25

Edge: Plain.

Obverse: Against a stylised plan of Cape Town Castle, van Riebeeck in topcoat and hat holding a stick standing front, head right. On a ribbon below: "1652 1952". Stamped with the sterling silver mark of the S.A. Mint at the foot.

Reverse: Between a sprig at the top and a triangle of dots at the bottom, across: "VAN / RIEBEECK-FEES / 1952 / VAN RIEBEECK / FESTIVAL".

Notes: Reported mintage (AM2) 1,522 in gold and 1,801 in silver. Pair comes in a S.A. Mint case and also boxed individually.

Jan van Riebeeck was tasked by the Dutch East India Company with the establishment of a refreshment station for ships on passage between the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies. He arrived at the Cape of Good Hope aboard the Drommedaris in 1652 and thus he and his party became the first Europeans to settle in South African.

The obverse design of van Riebeeck is taken from his statue in Cape Town Main Square.