RSA (Pre-1994): South African Airways 50th Anniversary
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Form:
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Circular. Gold & silver proof struck.
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By:
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Pagliari / Cape Mint |
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Date:
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1984 |
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Ref:
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Laidlaw: 0141;
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Variations:
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| Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
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| 33 mm | Gold 22ct | 34.2gm | $1,750 | | 38 mm | Silver | 32.2gm | $45 | | 45.1 mm | Bronze | 40.9gm | $15 |
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Edge:
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Plain. Medals in presentation set stamped with the issue number.
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Obverse:
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A Boeing 747 “Jumbo Jet” flying to the right and slightly outwards bearing the SAA emblems. Above is a de Havilland DH-60 “Gipsy Moth” biplane flying to the right and slightly inwards bearing the marking ZS-ABH. Signed: “PAGLIARI” below the wing of the Jumbo Jet. Legend above: “50 YEARS OF FLIGHT”, and below: “50 GOUE VLUGJARE”
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Reverse:
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The “Flying Springbok” emblem of the SAA against 50 in large numerals. Above: “1934”, and below: “1984”. Legend above: “SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS”, and below: “SUID-AFRIKAANSE LUGDIENS”. Marked below the date on the gold medal: “FYNGOUD 1 oz. FINE GOLD” and on the silver medal: “1 oz. 925 STG.”
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Notes:
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In 1934 the South African Government purchased Union Airways, a privately owned airline. The initial assets were four Junkers F 13"s, one Junkers W 34, one Junkers A 50, one de Havilland Puss Moth and two de Havilland Gipsy Moths. The new state airline initially served the cities of Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
The gold medal contains 1oz fine gold and the silver medal 1oz fine silver. The mintages were 5,000 gold, 5,000 silver and 10,000 bronze. Included in these figures are 500 presentation sets containing the three medals sequentially numbered on the edge.
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