South Africa Currency One Pound banknote 1948 Jan van Riebeeck
South African Reserve Bank - Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank
Obverse: Portrait of Jan van Riebeeck (1619 – 1677), was a Dutch navigator and colonial administrator and the founder of Cape Town. At the top are the name of the bank in English and Afrikaans: "South African Reserve Bank" and "Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank". An inscriptions: "I promise to pay the bearer on demand at Pretoria ONE POUND For the South African Reserve Bank" & "Ek beloof op aanvraag te betaal aan toonder te Pretoria EEN POND Vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank".
An Allegory of Hope at lower left corner - seated allegorical female with an anchor symbolizes hope of Voortrekkers for best and richer future. The Table Bay and Table Mountain with Van Riebeeck’s three ships at his arrival on April 6, 1652: the "Dromedaris", "Reijger" and "Goede Hoop" first time reaching the cape of Good Hope.
Signature: President Governor - Dr. Michiel Hendrik de Kock (29 January 1898 — 18 September 1976) was the third Governor of the South African Reserve Bank. His term of office was from 1 July 1945 to 30 June 1962.
Reverse: The Lion from the Coat of arms of South Africa between 1910 and 2000.
A lion holding four bound sticks, symbolizing the unification of the four former colonies (The Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, Colony of Natal, Orange Free State Republic and Transvaal). The motto, Ex Unitate Vires was officially translated as "Union is Strength" until 1961, and thereafter as "Unity is Strength". The motto is taken from the former Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (Transvaal) "Eendracht maakt magt" translated into Latin as "Ex Unitate Vires" - "In unity is our strength".
The face value of the banknote in words, in English and Afrikaans. The name of the bank in English and Afrikaans: "South African Reserve Bank" and "Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank" at left and right.
Watermark: Portrait of Jan van Riebeeck and the wavy lines along the borders of banknote.
Size: 150 x 84 mm.
Colour: Dark green.