2017 Silver 2 1/2c Tickey 50th Anniversary of the Heart Transplant

 2017 Silver 2 1/2c Tickey 50th Anniversary of the Heart Transplant

The South African Mint has issued a silver coin that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the medical miracle that astonished the world in 1967: the worlds first heart transplant. The extraordinary surgery is celebrated on a unique coin: a 2 12 cent Tickey.

The reverse of the small 2-12 cent Tickey depicts, again in minute detail, a healthy heart, with the thick healthy aorta coming out of the top of the heart, the many blood vessels, and the texture of the heart wall. The frosting of the relief of the healthy heart is lighter, whiter to indicate the much better quality of this heart. The proof finish on the mirrored background focuses attention on the perfection of the healthy heart. Also located on this side are the face value of 2 12 cents, the alloy of .925 silver combined with .75 copper, and the initials CNB representing the chief surgeon of this miracle Dr. Christian Neethling Barnard.

The obverse of the 2 12 cent Tickey is the standard depiction of the King Protea, South Africas national flower in the central field, with the country of issue, South Africa, struck inside the rim of the coin and positioned at the top. The year of issue 2017 appears inside the bottom rim of the lower edge of the coin. The obverse design was developed and engraved by Kruger Gray whose initials KG are noted to the right of the base of the stem of the Protea flower. The heritage obverse first appeared in circulation in 1922. Mr. Gray was a former engraver of the Royal Mint who passed away in 1943.

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