South Africa 1 Rand Bartholomeus Vermuyden 1975 Pick 115b UNC Banknote

The South Africa 1 Rand 1975 Pick 115b is a vintage banknote issued by the South African Reserve Bank during the 1970s.

Featuring a portrait traditionally associated with Bartholomeus Vermuyden, the note represents an earlier generation of South African paper currency, before the introduction of the modern wildlife-themed banknote series.

Historical Background

South Africa introduced the Rand on 14 February 1961, replacing the South African Pound as part of the country’s transition to decimal currency.

Early Rand banknotes featured a portrait traditionally identified as Jan van Riebeeck, the Dutch colonial administrator who established the Cape settlement in 1652. However, the historical portrait’s identity has been disputed, with some researchers identifying the subject as Bartholomeus Vermuyden instead.

This portrait became one of the most recognisable elements of South African banknote design before the introduction of the wildlife-themed series in 1992.

Banknote Specifications

Obverse

The obverse features the historical portrait traditionally associated with Jan van Riebeeck, sometimes identified as Bartholomeus Vermuyden.

Its intricate engraved details, formal typography and traditional banknote styling reflect South African currency design during the 1970s.

Reverse

The reverse features a mining scene associated with South Africa’s gold-mining industry, an important part of the country’s economic history.

Together, the historical portrait and industrial imagery illustrate the themes commonly represented on South African banknotes of this period.

Why Add This Banknote to Your Collection?

The South Africa 1 Rand 1975 P115b UNC banknote offers collectors an example of the country’s earlier paper currency. Its discontinued denomination, historical portrait and connection to South Africa’s mining heritage make it suitable for collections of African banknotes and twentieth-century currency.