2012

Mandela’s Gold

Strelitzia

Strelitzia reginae Mandela's Gold (Mandela’s Gold Bird of Paradise) is a rare golden flowering form of Bird of Paradise.

In the 1970’s, at Capetown’s Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, seven golden-yellow flowering plants appeared in the population of ordinary orange-colored Bird of Paradise plants. The curators there undertook a 20-year program of selection and hand-pollination, and then introduced the golden-yellow colored variety to horticulture. Originally named “Kirstenbosch Gold,” it was re-named in 1996 in honor of Nelson Mandela.

In order to commemorate the renaming of the Mandela’s Gold Strelitzia, the Mint of Norway minted 1000 half ounce and 200 Mandela’s Gold Strelitzia medallions in 24 carat gold. The ½ ounce medallions were minted in 2012, while the 1 ounce medallions were minted in 2013

The obverse of the medallion portrays the bust of Nelson Mandela, while the reverse features the image of a Strelizia and the wording “Strelitzia Reginae Aiton.

Mandela’s Gold