October 19, 2026
South Africa 1961 Silver 50 Cents KM-62 PCGS PL-67
1961 South Africa 50 Cents PCGS PL67 Silver KM-62 Springbok Republic. South Africa’s 1961 Silver 50 Cents marks one of the most important transitions in the country’s numismatic history. Issued during the first year of decimal coinage and the first year of the Republic of South Africa, the denomination directly replaced the earlier crown-size Five Shillings while retaining its impressive size and silver content. This exceptional example has been certified PCGS PL67, placing it among the highest-graded Prooflike examples certified by PCGS. Current PCGS population data records only 39 examples in PL67, one in PL67+, and five finer in PL68. The obverse features Jan van Riebeeck, whose settlement at the Cape in 1652 became a central motif in early Republic-era South African coinage. The reverse carries Coert Laurens Steynberg’s celebrated springbok, shown in its distinctive leaping pose. Steynberg’s springbok became one of the most recognizable designs in South African numismatics and would later become closely associated with the country’s gold coinage. The 1961 50 Cents was struck at the Pretoria Mint in. 500 fine silver, weighs 28.28 grams, measures 38.8 mm, and contains approximately 0.4546 troy ounces of silver. It is catalogued as KM-62 / Hern R26-29. The total production for the denomination was 54,530 pieces, but PCGS identifies only 20,000 pieces as Prooflike, making the collector-quality PL issue considerably scarcer than the overall mintage suggests. Prooflike coins were not conventional Proofs. They were produced using specially prepared dies that created highly reflective fields while remaining technically currency-standard strikes. This example displays brilliant reflective fields, sharp detail across Jan van Riebeeck’s portrait and the springbok, and outstanding overall preservation for the issue. Year: 1961 Country: South Africa Denomination: 50 Cents Grade: PCGS PL67 PCGS Cert: 54803988 PCGS Coin #: 168781 Catalog: KM-62 / Hern R26-29 Prooflike Mintage: 20,000 Composition: 50% Silver Silver Weight: 0.4546 oz ASW Weight: 28.28 g Diameter: 38.8 mm 1961 was a watershed year for South Africa. Decimal currency was introduced in February, the Republic was established in May, and the familiar Five Shillings gave way to the new 50 Cents denomination. This coin therefore represents both the beginning of South Africa’s decimal silver crown series and the opening year of the Republic. A superb, near-top-population PCGS PL67 example of one of South Africa’s most recognizable silver crowns. With only a handful of PCGS examples graded finer, this is an excellent opportunity for the serious South African, world crown, springbok, or Registry Set collector. Add this high-grade first-year Republic silver crown to your collection while this exact PCGS-certified example is available.
