Established
1892 (Pretoria) / 1992 (Centurion)
Parent
South African Reserve Bank
Products
Circulation, bullion, commemoratives
Museum
Coin World
The South African Mint Today
Headquartered in Centurion, the South African Mint is one of the world's most advanced minting facilities. It produces all of South Africa's circulating coins, mints commemorative coins for collectors, and supplies coin blanks to nations worldwide.
Key Facts
- Wholly owned by SARB (since 1988)
- Computer‑Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)
- Oom Paul Press on display
- Coin World museum & retail
Overview
The South African Mint Company (SA Mint) is a wholly‑owned subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank. It produces circulation coins, bullion (Krugerrands), and a wide range of commemorative coins. The mint relocated to its current Centurion campus in 1992, which is regarded as one of the most modern mints in the world, featuring fully integrated computer‑controlled manufacturing (CIM).
History Timeline
- 1892 – Pretoria Mint established (ZAR era).
- 1923 – Royal Mint branch opens in Pretoria.
- 1941 – South African government assumes control.
- 1961 – Decimal coinage introduced.
- 1988 – Becomes subsidiary of SARB.
- 1992 – Relocates to Centurion.
- 1996 – Coin World opens.
- 2022 – 30th anniversary in Centurion.
Facilities & Technology
The Centurion campus is a purpose‑built, "pristinely modern plant". It features:
- Computer‑Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) controlling all production.
- Continuous casting furnace for gold and silver.
- Automated rolling mills and blanking machines.
- Multi‑stroke presses for proof coins.
- Quality control laboratories.
- Coin World museum and retail outlet.
The Mint's information technology infrastructure, running on Computer Associates' Ingres database, manages everything from production scheduling to material tracking.
Product Range
Circulation Coins
- 10c, 20c, 50c (copper‑plated steel)
- R1, R2 (nickel‑plated copper)
- R5 (bi‑metal, copper‑nickel/copper)
Bullion Coins
- Krugerrand (gold: 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz; silver 1 oz)
Commemorative Series
- Natura, Big Five, Crown & Tickey, Mandela, Birds, Flowers, UNESCO, etc.
International Services
- Coin design, die production, blanks, minting for other countries.
️ Coin World – Museum & Retail
Opened in 1996, Coin World is the Mint's retail store and museum, located adjacent to the mint in Centurion. Exhibits include:
- History of South African currency (from barter to modern coins).
- The Oom Paul Press (on display).
- Ancient coin discoveries (1200s‑1600s found on the coast).
- Krugerrand 50th anniversary display.
Admission free, guided tours available. Hours: Tue–Fri 9:00‑16:00, Sat 10:00‑14:00, Mon 13:00‑16:00.
Sources
- South African Mint official website.
- "Celebrating 30 Years of the Mint in Centurion" (Oct 2022).
- ITWeb. "The buck starts here" (1998).
- News24. "Historic SA money museum in mint condition after revamp" (2018).