New coins officially launch in South Africa
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has officially launched two new R2 coins in honour of Charlotte Maxeke and the women involved in the 1956 Women’s March.
The launch follows the official declaration of the coins and legal tender earlier in the month and in June.
The new coins commemorate Maxeke’s achievement as the first black South African woman to obtain a university degree, as well as the Women’s March, which is celebrated as Women’s Day on 9 August.
At the launch, Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago paid tribute to the legacy of South African women in the struggle for liberation.
Kganyago told delegates at the launch that he hopes the new coins will inspire young South African women to pursue their dreams.
“This is a circulation coin; it’s an ordinary coin. The only difference is that it carries the image of this great woman,” said Kganyago.
“Remember, we are launching two coins: one is about this great woman, Charlotte Maxeke’s graduation, and the other is celebrating the women who gathered just across the road from here,” he said.
Charlotte Mannya Maxeke Institute Chairperson Thulasizwe Makhanya said that South Africa should continue striving for the freedom and equality that people such as Charlotte Maxeke fought for.
“In many instances, she stood her ground and was not intimidated by the boys in the club of her time,” said Makhanya.
“Perhaps the most difficult task is to unpack and define Charlotte Maxeke for ourselves and ask how she would have defined and responded to the challenges we face today,” Makhanya said.
Makhanya urged people to think about how Charlotte Maxeke would have responded to gender-based violence, femicide, and inequality of unequal pay.
He urged South Africans to consider how she would have evaluated the government’s performance and its institutions, as well as how she would have reacted to the current leadership of the churches.
Coins to commemorate education and the Constitution
In June, the SARB gazetted the specifications and designs of new commemorative R2 and R5 coins, which became legal tender on 16 June 2026.
The new R2 coins are themed around education and will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1976 youth uprising, the 125th anniversary of Charlotte Maxeke’s graduation, and the 30th anniversary of the Constitution of South Africa.
The R5 coin will serve as an educational tribute, featuring the designs of the R2 coins on its reverse side.
Like other commemorative coins, these coins do not have a higher value than their face value; they are created to celebrate important milestones, events, and legacies.
Some notable past coins include the 1994 Inauguration R5, which depicts the South African flag and a handshake, and the 2008 R5 coin released to honour former President Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday.
Most recently, the SA Mint produced a R5 coin in 2021 to celebrate the centenary of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).
The commemorations are a special edition and not a permanent change, unlike the 2023 refresh of South Africa’s coin designs.
The new coins became legal tender on June 16, 2026, which is celebrated as Youth Day. This public holiday commemorates the 1976 Soweto Uprising, which is depicted on one of the R2 coins.
On 16 June 1976, thousands of Black students peacefully protested against the apartheid government’s mandate requiring Afrikaans to be the compulsory language of instruction in schools.
The police opened fire on the students, igniting months of nationwide unrest and marking a pivotal moment in the struggle against apartheid.
Charlotte Maxeke was a prominent community leader and political activist who became the first Black woman in South Africa to graduate with a university degree.
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Wilberforce University in Ohio in 1901.
Upon her return to South Africa, she became actively involved in the fight for reform and gained prominence within the African National Congress (ANC).
She is often honoured as the “Mother of Black Freedom in South Africa,” with numerous organisations bearing her name.
In the field of education, the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg is named in her honour.
R2 commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings
R2 commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprising
R2 commemorating the 125th Graduation Anniversary of Charlotte Maxeke
R2 commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Constitution of South Africa
R5 commemorating Education
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