2022 1 oz South Africa Gold Elephant Coin (BU)

The 2022 Big Five Elephant in Gold

The 2022 1 oz South Africa Gold Elephant is the first coin of the South African Mint’s Big Five Series II, struck in one troy ounce of 999.9 fine gold with a 50 rand face value. The elephant leads Series II, just as it led the first Big Five series in 2019, and this is the Brilliant Uncirculated bullion version dated 2022.

 

Two Coins, One Elephant

One side of the coin shows the elephant’s face split down the middle: an eye, an ear and a tusk at each edge, with the trunk running off both sides and a small medallion reading FIFTY RAND, 1oz and Au 9999 at the center. The South African Mint designed it so that two coins side by side complete one elephant’s face, and a row of coins forms a herd. It is the detail that makes the Big Five a series people collect in multiples.

 

What Changed in Series II

The other side carries the elephant’s portrait above South Africa’s coat of arms, with SOUTH AFRICA and BIG FIVE 2022 around the rim. For Series II, the Mint redrew that portrait. The 2019 elephant showed part of the body, faced left and carried long, downward-pointing tusks. Face only, facing right, the 2022 elephant has shorter tusks that turn upward. The split-face side stayed the same as in the first series.

 

Bullion, Not the Proof

The South African Mint, a wholly owned subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank, released the Series II collector coins in gold as proofs. This listing is the Brilliant Uncirculated bullion coin, struck in 999.9 fine gold for buyers who want the Big Five design at bullion pricing. No published bullion mintage was found for the 2022 gold Elephant, so we make no rarity claim for it.

 

2022 Gold Elephant Specifications

The 2022 coin holds one troy ounce of 999.9 fine gold, measures 32.69 mm across, has a reeded edge and carries a 50 rand face value. 32.69 mm, 999.9 fine, struck by the South African Mint. Condition and IRA eligibility are on the Specifications tab above.

 

2022 South Africa Gold Elephant FAQ

 

Why does one side show only half an elephant’s face?

The South African Mint split the face between the two edges of the coin so that two coins placed side by side make one complete elephant, and a row of them makes a herd.

 

How is the 2022 Elephant different from the 2019 Elephant?

The 2022 coin opens Big Five Series II with a redrawn portrait: the face only, turned to the right, with shorter tusks pointing upward. The 2019 coin showed part of the body, faced left and had long tusks pointing down.

 

Is this the proof coin?

No. This is the Brilliant Uncirculated bullion version. The South African Mint sold its Series II gold collector coins as proofs.

 

What comes after the Elephant in Series II?

The South African Mint released the series in the same order as the first: elephant, then lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo, a new animal roughly every six months.

 

Is the 2022 Gold Elephant IRA eligible?

Yes. At 999.9 fine gold, it meets the purity requirement for gold held in a precious metals IRA.

 

Prefer South Africa’s classic bullion coin? Browse our South African Gold Krugerrands.

 

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