The South African Mint has announced the final offering in the popular Big 5 Series II coin range, which features the Buffalo and is available in gold, platinum and silver.

Series II mirrors the reverse design of Series I, in that two halves of the featured animal’s face are shown on each side, forming a full face only when two or more coins are placed side-by-side.

The obverse of the new coin shows a striking new rendition of the buffalo’s head, facing the right with its head and horn both prominent. The obverse also includes the South African coat of arms, indicating the coin’s status as legal tender.

By contrast, in Series I, the animal is facing the left, and a part of the body can be seen.

Customers can now complete their Big 5 series ll collection with this final Buffalo coin range.

The platinum offering consists of a single 1 oz coin, while the silver range comprises a 1 oz brilliant uncirculated coin, a 1 oz double capsule set, containing two silver proof coins, and a special Big 5 and Krugerrand buffalo privy mark combination set.

The gold range includes a 1 oz gold proof, a 1/4 oz gold proof and a 1/4 oz gold proof double capsule set, containing two identical gold proof coins. The gold coins are complemented by a Big 5 and Krugerrand buffalo privy mark combination set consisting of a 1 oz gold proof Big 5 coin and a 1 oz gold proof Krugerrand coin.

“This magnificent coin provides a fitting culmination of the Big 5 Series ll range. Series II made its mark in 2021 with a significant design refresh, while maintaining the high craftsmanship associated with the Big 5 series, and the Buffalo coin exemplifies this exceptional design aesthetic,” says South African Mint MD Honey Mamabolo.

The Buffalo, also known as the Warrior, is a symbol of fertility and aggression, the South African Mint states.

Its impact is evident through the transformative effect this huge animal has on the African environment. The large herds of buffalo not only help create the African savannah as they graze the long grasses short and open up pathways, but they are also associated with the dense thickets they rely on to elude predators.

This combination of craftiness and brute power ensures the Buffalo’s inclusion in the Big 5, the Mint says.