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Paradise Crane (Nickel) 5 Cents South Africa Authentic Coin Money for Jewelry and Craft Making (Xhosa Hero) (Blue Crane) Power Through Unity

Paradise Crane (Nickel) 5 Cents South Africa Authentic Coin Money for Jewelry and Craft Making (Xhosa Hero) (Blue Crane) Power Through Unity

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Paradise Crane (Nickel) 5 Cents South Africa Authentic Coin Money for Jewelry and Craft Making (Xhosa Hero) (Blue Crane) (Power Through Unity)

Reverse: Paradise Crane (blue crane), value
Lettering: 5c

Obverse: South Africa coat of arms with the motto "Ex Unitate Vires" (Power Through Unity)
Lettering: SOUTH AFRICA · SUID-AFRIKA
EX UNITATE VIRES

Features
Issuer South Africa
Period Republic of South Africa (1961-date)
Type Standard circulation coin
Years 1970-1989
Value 5 Cents
0.05 ZAR = USD 0.0034
Currency Rand (1961-date)
Composition Nickel
Weight 2.5 g
Diameter 17.35 mm
Thickness 1.6 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Number N# 1791
References KM# 84, Hern# D95-100, 102-103, 105-106, 108-114, Schön# 123

Wikipedia:
The blue crane (Grus paradisea), also known as the Stanley crane and the paradise crane, is the national bird of South Africa. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

The blue crane is culturally significant to the Xhosa people, who call it indwe (flag). Traditionally, when a man distinguished himself in battle or otherwise, he was often decorated by a chief with blue crane feathers in a ceremony called ukundzabela. Men so honoured, who would wear the feathers sticking out of their hair, were known as men of ugaba (trouble)—the implication being that if trouble arose, they would reinstate peace and order.

It is also of significance to the Zulu people, whose kings and warriors wore a single or many feathers as a headdress.

The blue crane is a tall, ground-dwelling bird, but is fairly small by the standards of the crane family. It is 100–120 cm (3 ft 3 in–3 ft 11 in) tall, with a wingspan of 180–200 cm (5 ft 11 in–6 ft 7 in) and weighs 3.6–6.2 kg (7.9–13.7 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing chord measures 51.4–59 cm (20.2–23.2 in), the exposed culmen measures 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in) and the tarsus measures 20.5–25.2 cm (8.1–9.9 in). This crane is pale blue-gray in color becoming darker on the upper head, neck and nape. From the crown to the lores, the plumage is distinctly lighter, sometimes whitish. The bill is ochre to greyish, with a pink tinge. The long wingtip feathers which trail to the ground. The primaries are black to slate grey, with dark coverts and blackish on the secondaries. Unlike most cranes, it has a relatively large head and a proportionately thin neck. Juveniles are similar but slightly lighter, with tawny coloration on the head, and no long wing plumes.

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Wikipedia:
The coat of arms featured a shield quartered. In each quarter was a symbol of the four provinces of South Africa. An ox wagon representing Transvaal Province, a woman with an anchor representing Cape Province, two wildebeests representing Natal Province and an orange tree representing the Orange Free State Province. The crest of the arms featured a lion holding four bound sticks. The supporters were a springbok and a gemsbok. Below the arms was the Latin motto, Ex Unitate Vires (translated as "Union Is Strength" but from 1961, translated as "Unity Is Strength").

The blazon (formal description of the arms in heraldic terms) is: "Quarterly per fesse wavy First Quarter Gules a female figure representing Hope resting the dexter arm upon a rock and supporting with the sinister hand an Anchor Argent Second Quarter Or two Wildebeesten in full course at random both proper Third Quarter Or upon an island an Orange tree Vert fructed proper Fourth Quarter Vert a Trek Waggon Argent And for the Crest On a Wreath of the Colours A Lion passant guardant Gules supporting with the dexter paw four staves erect alternately Argent and Azure and branded Or And for the Supporters, On the dexter side A Spring Buck and on the sinister side An Oryx (Gemsbuck) both proper together with the motto EX UNITATE VIRES."

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