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World’s First Human Heart Transplant: 50th Anniversary: A 2 Rand
Silver Coin and a 2 ½ Cent Tickey issued by the South African Mint in 2017 under
its coin series “South African Inventions” launched in 2016:
World’s
First Human Heart Transplant:
On 03.12.1967, 53
year old Lewis Washkansky, received the first human heart transplant at
Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.
Washkansky, a South
African grocer dying from chronic heart disease, received the transplant from
Denise Darvall, a 25 year old woman who was fatally injured in a car accident.
The Chief Surgeon Dr.
Christiaan Barnard, who trained at the University of Cape Town and in the
USA, performed the revolutionary medical operation leading a team of about
30 surgeons. The technique employed by Dr. Barnard had initially been
developed by a group of American researchers in the 1950s. (Earlier, American
surgeon Dr. Norman Shumway had performed the first successful heart transplant
on a dog at Stanford University in California in 1958).
After Lewis Washkansky’s
surgery, he was given drugs to suppress his immune system and keep his
body from rejecting the heart. These drugs also left him susceptible to
sickness, however and 18 days later he died from double pneumonia. Nevertheless, despite the setback, Washkansky’s
new heart had functioned normally until he passed away.
After this event, ongoing
research in the field laid the foundation for human heart transplants to become
a well-established form of therapy for end-stage cardiac disease.
In the 1970s, the
development of better anti-rejection drugs made heart transplantations more
viable. Dr. Barnard continued to perform heart transplant operations and
by late 1970s, many of his patients were living up to five years with their new
hearts.
Successful heart transplant
surgery continues to be performed today, but finding appropriate donors is
rather difficult.
The
Commemorative coins:
In 2016, the South
African Mint launched a coin series with the theme “South African Inventions”
to highlight globally relevant inventions and first by South Africans. The first
invention to be featured was the “dolosse” – which was developed in
East London to protect harbour walls and dissipate the energy of breaking
waves, the dolosse are used in their millions along coastlines world-wide.
The South African Mint has
in 2017 issued a 2 Rand Silver coin and a smaller 2 ½ Cent “Tickey” that
commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the World’s First Heart Transplant
in 1967, that took place in Cape Town, South Africa.
The two coins “fit” together and
these coins let one imagine the intricate heart transplant – with the
small Silver "Tickey" Coin depicting the good heart which appears on top of the
larger coin depicting the torso and within it, poor heart.
The 2-1/2 Cent Tickey placed on top of the 2 Rand coin representing the good heart of Denise Darwall which was transplanted in place of Lewis Washkansky's poor heart represented in the anatomical features of the 2 Rand coin.
A Front view of the two coins put together - side by side & one on top of the other
Another Front view of the two coins put together - one on top of the other
The complex anatomical
details have been designed by South African Mint designer Richard C. Stone
and Artist Carl V.B. Jeppe. The engraver of the coin is Paul Botes of the South
African Mint.
The Reverse of the larger
Silver 2 Rand Coin
It depicts in great detail the skeleton, epidermis,
veins and organs of the torso area of the human body. Even the complex veins
and arteries weaving their way into and out of the heart can be seen, as well
as, the web of blood vessels connecting it to the liver.
Also visible are the detailed texture of the
outer wall of the heart and the puffy, pillow-like tubing of the large and
small intestines. The diseased heart shows fat deposits, dying muscle and an
area of blocked blood flow, as can be seen in the central area where the
frosted and polished surface seems darker. A raised circle indicates the
position of the heart, as well as, serves as a place holder for the small
Tickey and the imagined cavity of the human chest.
To the right, in two
lines, is the date “1967/12.03” (3rd December 1967) when this highly
specialised surgery was performed. The denominational value “R2” (or 2 Rand)
and the words “FIRST HEART/TRANSPLANT” (in two lines) are superimposed over the
lower half of the torso.
The Obverse of the larger
Silver 2 Rand Coin
It shows the standard Coat of Arms of the Republic of South
Africa in the Centre, in frosted relief on a mirrored field, flanked on either
side by the first two and last two digits in the year of issue “2017”.
Surrounding the Coat of
Arms in a pentagon formation are 10 phrases (two phrases on each side of the
pentagon showing the name of South Africa in each of the country’s 11 official
languages (with a single depiction representing both the Ndebele and the Zulu
languages, both of which spell the name identically).
The specifications of this coin are:
Year
of issue: 2017; Issuer: South African Mint; Denomination: 2 Rand; Metallic
Composition: .925 Silver, .75 Copper; Weight: 31.1 grams; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage limit:
1,700 pieces.
General
remarks: 1,000 of the coins are being made
available for individual coin purchases, while 700 coins will be sold as two
coin sets along with the 2 ½ Cents Tickey. The 700 coin sets will be kept in
elegant, hand-crafted wooden cases.
The Reverse of the smaller
Silver 2 ½ Cent Tickey
It depicts in minute detail, a healthy heart, with
the thick, healthy aorta coming out of the top, the many blood vessels and the
texture of the heart wall. The frosted finish of the healthy heart, produced in
relief against a mirrored field, emphasises the organ’s good health.
At lower right on the
mirrored field, also in relief, is the denominational value of “2 ½ Cents”
depicted by a stacked fraction and a super-script letter “C” for “Cents”.
The metallic composition
appeas in two lines in the upper right field as “Ag925” and “Cu75” (92.5%
Silver, 7.5% Copper), with the initials “CNB” (standing for the Chief Surgeon
Dr. Christiaan Neethling Bernard below). Somehow
I think, that Dr Bernard’s name should have figured more prominently on this
coin set, as unless it is specifically mentioned it is difficult to prima facie
associate the initials “CNB” with that of the name of the lead doctor who
performed this feat).
The Obverse of the smaller
2 ½ Cent Tickey
This design was developed and engraved by Kruger Gray and first
appeared in circulation in 1922.
The central device is the
standard depiction of the King Protea, South Africa’s National Flower, in
frosted relief on a mirrored field, with “SOUTH AFRICA” above and the
designer’s initials “KG” to the right of the base of the stem. The year of
issue “2017” is placed between two floral ornaments below the flower. The field
is surrounded by a beaded border within a plain raised rim.
The specifications of this coin are:
Year
of issue: 2017; Issuer: South African Mint; Denomination: 2 ½ Tickey; Metallic Composition: .925 Silver, .70 Copper; Weight: 1.3 grams; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage limit: 1,700 pieces.
General
remarks: 1,000 of the coins are being made
available for individual coin purchases, while 700 coins will be sold as two
coin sets along with the 2 Rand Coin. The 700 coin sets will be kept in
elegant, hand-crafted wooden cases.
For
the combined-model 700 coin sets:
The wooden box in which
the two coin set is placed
The two coin model is a
composite casting in two parts:
Specifications
of the 2 Rand Coins:
Weight:
33.625 grams; Diameter:
38.725 mm; Metal Composition:
.925 Silver, .75 Copper. Year of
issue: 2017. Issuer:
South African Mint.
Specifications
of the 2 ½ Cent (Tickey):
Weight:
1.414 grams; Diameter: 16.34
mm; Metal content: .925
Silver, .75 Copper; Year of issue:
2017; Issuer: South African
Mint.
The
model of a silver heart is also being marketed by the South African Mint, which
is a very innovative design.
Links:
1) Currency of South Africa and the Common Monetary Area between South africa, Swaziland and Lesotho: the Rand and Cents
2) World's First Human Heart Transplant: 50th Anniversary: A 2 Rand Silver Coin and a 2 1/2 Cent Tickey issued by the South African Mint in 2017 under its coin series "South African Inventions"launched in 2016
2) World's First Human Heart Transplant: 50th Anniversary: A 2 Rand Silver Coin and a 2 1/2 Cent Tickey issued by the South African Mint in 2017 under its coin series "South African Inventions"launched in 2016
