"THE GOLD MINER" COMMEMORATIVE TENTH OUNCE TREASURE.

THE VERY FIRST PROTEA TENTH OUNCE TO COMMEMORATE THE VARIOUS INDUSTRIES OF THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY OF OURS AND IS 'HISTORY IN THE MAKING".

THE 1999 MINING 24 CARAT GOLD COIN PRECEDES THE WINE INDUSTRY (2000), TOURISM (2001), THE SPORTS SERIES AND POLITICAL FIGUREHEADS. INTERESTINGLY, THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST COINS PRIOR TO A VALUE OF R5.00 BEING ATTRIBUTED TO EACH COIN IN THIS SERIES FROM 2002 ONWARDS.

THE PICTURE OF A COCOPAN EXITING A MINE ON THE REVERSE OF THE COIN IS A MEMORIAL TO ALL THE MINERS THAT IN SOME CASES PAYED THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR THESE TREASURES CAST IN COINAGE. ON THE OBVERSE IS THE KING PROTEA IN FULL BLOOM (IRONIC!!!!).

A SALUTE TO THEIR DIGNITY AND COMMITMENT IN AN UNDERGROUND JOB THAT NEVER REALLY ALLOWED THE MINERS TO RETIRE OR SIT BACK AND REAP THE REWARDS OF THEIR SOMETIMES THANKLESS CONTRIBUTION TO OUR ECONOMY.

THIS SMALL TRIBUTE AND A RICH HISTORY SHOULD BE A PART OF ANY COIN COLLECTION, REGARDLESS OF THE THEME.

THE COIN IS IN PROOF CONDITION AND IN IT'S ORIGINAL BLUE BOX OF ISSUE WITH A CERTIFICATE.. THE ITEM IS NOW SECOND HAND, AS IT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM THE S. A. MINT.