If you happen to be among the lucky ones who manage to get hands on one of the five million new R5

Mandela coin, would you trade it for a loaf – pardon, half-a-loaf of bread?
The hype surrounding the 1994 R5 Presidential Inauguration coin and the 2000 and R5 Nelson Mandela coin
shows no signs of abating. The coins that the experts say are worth exactly five Rands each can sell for more
than twenty times their value. The 90th birthday Nelson Mandela commemorative coin promises to create similar
demand.
The authorities have made it clear to the public that the R5 Nelson Mandela coin, launched to coincide with
Madiba’s 90th birthday on 18th July, is a normal legal tender. It pays tribute to a great man, and is not meant to
be a collector’s item.
Five million 90th birthday Madiba coins have been minted. The conventional numismatic wisdom says
that such a big number precludes it from ever becoming an “investment coin”.
However, nothing about the former South African president quite fits the conventional standards. By
the process of association, everything related to Madiba - including coins with his likeness - seems to
acquire a special aura. That is probably why the authorities felt it was necessary to urge South
Africans to spend the new coin, rather than hoard it. "Do use it to buy goods and services”, said
Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni when announcing the launch of the new coin.
If the fate of the earlier coins associated with Nelson Mandela is anything to go by, anyone
scrutinizing their change to find the 2008 Mandela coin in it will be probably disappointed.
The experts in the field of numismatics shake their heads. Certainly, there are several Mandela
commemorative coins, minted in small numbers. Some of them may indeed appreciate considerably
with time. There also Mandela medallions, which normally derive their value from the precious metals
they were made out of.
Then there are ordinary Mandela coins, which is where things get really complicated. Johannesburg
Coin Exchange experts explain that ordinary coins, meant to be used as legal tender in a country, are
divided into three board categories: proofs, un-circulated and circulated coins. Moreover, each
category has several sub-categories and numerous degrees. To simplify, the proofs and uncirculated
coins are fewer in number. The modern proofs are packed in boxes or plastic holders, and
uncirculated coins come in laminated plastic.
Proofs and uncirculated coins are the categories where real treasure may reside. This is especially
true of several rare Mandela coin proofs, which have been known to reach high prices, thus igniting
the imagination of every Tom, Dick and Harry with a few coins jiggling in their pockets.
Currently, a set of Nobel Prize laureates Mandela and de Klerk coins, described by the seller as “a
very rare PF 70” is up for grabs for R750,000 or more at bidorbuy.co.za. It is open for debate how
much of the R750,000 asking price can be attributed to the Nelson Mandela 90th birthday
commemorations. Only time can show whether that price tag is inflated or not.
In the eyes of true collectors, it is much more bewildering that ordinary circulated, or – as they are
also known – second-hand R5 Mandela coins are vying for potential buyers alongside proofs and
other pedigreed items, occasionally achieving ten or more times their “real” value.
Against such backgrounds, the odds are that the 2008 Mandela R5 coins will disappear from
circulation and appear on bidorbuy.co.za and other trading places before the nation and the world
have finished expressing best wishes to Madiba on his 90th birthday. To make things more interesting
and give them an additional thrill, there are rumors that those caught trading in the new 90th birthday
coin will be prosecuted.
Be that as it may, there is no doubt that most people feel like the blogger who goes by the name of
“flxy”. “Why would you want to spend a coin that depicts Nelson Mandela, given the previous track
record of circulation coins featuring Mandela”, says he (or she), and goes on to add: “ Surely, a coin
depicting one of the greatest statesmen should be something that would endear itself to the holder?”

Featured Items in Mandela Coins

MS67 - Mandela 90th Birthday R5 NGC MS67 - High Grade @ R1 Start

BullionVault

Current Price: R201.00

Ends: 03 Mar 20:30

1994 R5 Inauguration NGC AU58 @ R1 Start

BullionVault

Current Price: R131.00

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***MS67***High Grade !!! *** Birthday Mandela R5 *** 10 AVAILABLE

debble888

Current Price: R209.00

Ends: 03 Mar 20:30

***ALL THREE!!!! MS65, MS66, MS67*** ---Birthday Mandela R5--- R1 START ***

debble888

Current Price: R550.00

Ends: 03 Mar 20:30
Mandela 90th Birthday R5 NGC MS66 x 100 @ R1 Start

BullionVault

Current Price: R93.00

Ends: 09 Mar 14:00

Mandela 90th Birthday R5 NGC MS64, MS65, MS66 & MS67 - Get All 4 @ R1 Start

BullionVault

Current Price: R860.00

Ends: 03 Mar 20:30
Mandela 90th Birthday R5 NGC MS64, MS65, MS66 & MS67 - Get All 4 @ R1 Start

BullionVault

Current Price: R900.00

Ends: 09 Mar 14:00

Nelson Mandela - Long Walk To Freedom & FW de Klerk 1oz Gold 24 Carat (999.99) @ R1 Start

BullionVault

Current Price: R14,100.00

Ends: 09 Mar 14:00
#### 1994 R5 Inauguration PF 69 Ultra Cameo - Super Rare @ CRAZY R1 AUCTION , FOR 1 DAY ONLY!!
#####

Kp36
Current Price: R1,882.00
Ends: 03 Mar 21:00

1994 R5 Inauguration NGC PF69 Ultra Cameo - 2nd Highest Grade @ R1 Start

BullionVault

Current Price: R1,800.00

Ends: 03 Mar 20:30