SA mints new Mandela birthday coin

South Africa launched a special coin on Monday as part of celebrations for the 90th birthday of former president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

The central bank said five million of the R5 coins, featuring a smiling portrait of Mandela, would go into circulation on his birthday, July 18.

“We want people to touch a bit of Madiba, to share the love and leadership as the coin goes around,” Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said at a ceremonial minting of one of the coins in Johannesburg, standing alongside a seated Mandela.

Many South Africans affectionately use the former president’s clan name of Madiba.

The beaming Nobel laureate, also flanked by South African Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni, said he was honoured.

“I am a bit richer this morning,” he joked, holding up the coin for photographers.—Reuters