RSA (Pre-1994): Centenary of the University of South Africa (UNISA)

Form:

Circular

By:

Miss T. Knapp, Pretoria / SA Mint

Date:

1973

Ref:

AM2: 431; Laidlaw: 0902;

Variations:

Size	Metal	Mass	Value
38.1 mm	Silver	29.0 gm	$40
38.2 mm	Bronze	27.6 gm	$15

Edge:

Plain. Silver medal stamped with the SA Mint sterling silver mark with date letter Y (for 1972).

Obverse:

Coat of arms of the University with motto: "SPIES IN ARDUIS". Below across: "1873 - 1973".

Reverse:

Stylized view of UNISA building. Above: "mxmlxxiii".

Notes:

Comes is a square blue fitted case, lined on the inside with while silk-like and blue velvet-like material. On the outside of the lid, in gold, same as the obverse of the medal and on the inside in ornate letters: "SAM"

Founded in 1873 as the University of the Cape of Good Hope, UNISA spent most of its early years as an examining agency for Oxford and Cambridge universities and as an incubator from which most other universities in South Africa evolved. It is now the largest university on the African continent and attracts a third of all higher education students in South Africa. UNISA is a dedicated open distance education institution with over 300,000 students from 130 countries worldwide.