Not many world leaders will have coins minted for them. But one much loved icon, former South Africa president Nelson Mandela had his R5 coin released and launched at the Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg yesterday.
Not many world leaders will have coins minted for them. But one much loved icon, former South Africa president Nelson Mandela had his R5 coin released launched at the Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg yesterday.
It was to celebrate his 90th birthday.
The coin features a portrait of Mandela, and five million of them will go into circulation on Friday, July 18, Mandela’s birthday.
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said the coin will share ‘Tata’s’ love, “We want people to touch a bit of Madiba, to share the love and leadership as the coin goes around,”
After being presented with the coin, the ever jovial Madiba, as he is affectionately called, joked saying : “I am a bit richer this morning and I am not going to associate with poor people any more.”
South Africans were called to use the new coin, rather than hoarding it.
Among events commemorating Mandela’s 90th birthday was a star-studded birthday concert that took place in London’s Hyde Park, last June, where he was the guest star.
