SA wins Best Contemporary Event Coin at the Coin Of The Year Awards

South Africa has often been in the spotlight for winning awards globally but the latest one was something we never imagined and it’s pretty cool!!!

Johannesburg, South Africa – South Africa has been awarded the 2019 title of Best Contemporary Event Coin at the Coin Of The Year Awards. The coin was created to commemorate the heart transplant.

The South African Mint won the accolade for its R2 Crown coin depicting the world’s first successful human-to-human heart transplant.

The Crown coin was minted in 2016, made of sterling silver to mark the 50th anniversary of the historic event. Since the first heart transplant, approximately 4000 people undergo the procedure every year. It was a groundbreaking surgery and a world first.

The world’s first heart transplant was performed by Dr Chris Barnard in Cape Town on 3 December 1967.

Dr Chris Barnard was born in Beaufort West in 1922. He became inspired to make a difference when one of his patients delivered a baby boy with a heart defect which could not be remedied. Sadly, the baby died, spurring him on and left him thinking about the need for remedial surgery and the replacement of heart valves.

He was offered a chance to work in Minneapolis in the US under Professor Wagensteen, a teacher of experimental surgery. While there, the heart-lung machine was perfected, which turned out to be the gateway to cardiac surgery.

He spent a few more years studying in the US, when he decided to return to South Africa, he was given a gift from Professor Wagensteen, a heart-lung machine. He returned to Groote Schuur hospital in 1958 to start the first heart unit to perform a cardiac bypass operation.

After performing the first successful kidney transplant on Edith Black, in October 1967 Barnard informed Professor Val Schrire, who had built up the cardiac clinic: “Everything is ready for a heart transplant. We have the team and we know how to do it.”

In November 1967, Schrire called Barnard and told him that there was a suitable patient for a heart transplant. Louis Washkansky was suffering from heart failure and was prepared to take the chance. The heart was donated by Denise Darvall.

That is the story of how a South African surgeon made medical history.

The Coin of the Year awards are an annual event that honour the coins created by mints globally.

‘Instituted by Wisconsin based Krause Publications, The Coin of the Year Award honours the accomplishments of mints from around the world in numismatic design, artistic vision, craftsmanship and marketing efforts. A panel of international judges choose the coins from those issued two years prior to the year of the award.’

While it may seem like a simple thing, giving a coin an award. We will glady embrace the win for South Africa. Every win counts and this one is especially important because of its inspiration, the heart transplant.

“The Inventions series captures the ingenuity and the remarkable contributions of South Africans across various fields and is yet another example of the Mint’s commitment to preserving and celebrating South Africa’s history,” says Tumi Tsehlo, MD, South African Mint.

“In the world of collectable coins, beauty is the very essence of its existence and not just skin deep. This recognition elevates the reputation of our craftmanship and calibre of manufacturing, areas where SA Mint continues to make investments and strides. The award is a testament to the same.”

Take a look at the winning coin below.