Coin Profile: South African Mint Finds Range with New Series
The South African Mint’s new African Range series combines high-relief minting with sculptural wildlife designs inspired by one of the nation’s foremost artists.
The South African Mint is taking on new heights with its first high-relief coin series, The African Range. First released in late May 2026, the five-coin collection blends numismatic prestige with motifs of animals native to Africa.
The first of the Range series goes on a hunt with the cheetah, as the African big cat, known for its speed, quietly stalks its prey on a tree limb on the reverse and proudly sits in profile on the obverse, all in a high relief.
“Our ambition was to create a flagship collection that reflects Africa’s natural beauty, craftsmanship, and artistic excellence on a global stage,” explains Product Development Manager at the South African Mint, Richard Stone, in a press release for the series.
Eschewing the traditional coin design process of flat drawing, modeling, and engraving, the animals on the coins were inspired by sculptures by South African artist Dylan Lewis, who is known for his wildlife depictions. The process of interpreting Lewis’ work from sculpture to high-relief coinage was months long. “It was a profound responsibility to reinterpret an existing sculpture into a new medium,” says Stone.
Included in the series are proof coins of 1 kilogram, 5 ounce, 2 ounce, 1 ounce, and ¼ ounce in 24-carat gold and 1 kilogram, 5 ounce, and 2 ounce silver. Also available is a sculpture set featuring a 1-ounce high-relief privy mark gold coin paired with a miniature sculpture by Lewis.
“This is a project of enduring value,” says Stone. “It is a story-driven series that invites collectors to embark on a journey unfolding over five years and potentially beyond.”
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