This fifth and final example in the South African Mint's popular Big Five series is dedicated to the buffalo. South Africa is justifiably proud of its extraordinary wildlife. The animals known as the "Big Five" - elephant, lion, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard - are landmarks and ambassadors for this culturally rich country. The design of the silver coin features an impressive portrait of a buffalo. The inscriptions "South Africa", "Big Five 2021" and South Africa's national coat of arms also appear on the design. The reverse features the two halves of a buffalo head. When two of these coins are placed next to each other, the full portrait of a buffalo can be seen in close-up. If several of these pieces are placed side by side, a whole herd of buffalo can be seen. The Cape buffalo or African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a typical grazer. It lives in herds of a few dozen to hundreds of animals and prefers marshy areas and shady meadows near water. The buffalo is characterised by its curved horns, which can reach a span of 1.50 metres. As a member of the "Big Five", the buffalo was once hunted in big game drives and severely decimated, so much so that the species almost became extinct - in the meantime, however, populations have recovered. The Big Five Buffalo limited silver coin in uncirculated quality comes in an illustrated blister card from the South African Mint.
