Rhodesia – 1966 – 5 Pounds – Elizabeth II – 1.1762oz Gold Proof – PCGS PR65 – Cert 57608963

This rare gold coin from Rhodesia was minted in 1966 as a large-format 5-pound proof issue. It is one of the historically significant gold coins of southern Africa and was issued to commemorate the first anniversary of Rhodesia’s unilateral declaration of independence in 1965. As such, the coin possesses not only numismatic but also historical significance.

The coin conforms to the classic British five-pound gold standard in weight and gold content. With a gross weight of approximately 39.94 g and a gold content of 1.1762 oz, it is considered one of the more substantial gold coins from the Commonwealth-related minting environment. The mintage was limited to only 3,000 pieces, which is why this issue is now significantly rarer on the market than many more well-known gold coins of comparable size.

The obverse features the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with the inscription “ELIZABETH THE SECOND”. The portrait is by Arnold Machin, whose depiction of the Queen is among the most iconic coin portraits of the 20th century. The reverse shows the coat of arms of Rhodesia, flanked by the divided year “1966”, the inscription “RHODESIA”, and the denomination “FIVE POUNDS”. The initials “TS” refer to the reverse designer, Thomas Sasseen.

Of particular interest to collectors is the PCGS certification with the PR65 rating. This classification signifies high-quality proof preservation with an attractive overall appearance. Especially with historical gold-proof issues from the 1960s, verified and permanently encapsulated preservation is an important factor in building trust, as it significantly improves authenticity, condition, and market transparency.

This 1966 Rhodesia 5 Pound Gold Proof coin combines several strong features: a very low mintage, a high fine gold weight of 1.1762 oz, a historic issue from southern Africa, a classic portrait of Elizabeth II, the coat of arms of Rhodesia, and PCGS certification in PR65. This makes the coin particularly suitable for collectors of historic gold coins, Commonwealth issues, African numismatics, and high-quality proof gold coins.

Technical data

Country: Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe
Year: 1966
Face value: 5 pounds / £5
Occasion: 1st anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence of 1965
Metal: Gold
Fineness: 916/1000, 22 carats
Gross weight: approx. 39.94 g
Fine weight: 1.1762 oz gold, approx. 36.59 g
Diameter: approx. 36 mm
Minting quality: Proof
Edition: 3,000 copies
Mint: South African Mint, Pretoria
Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II.
Avers designer: Arnold Machin
Reverse: Coat of arms of Rhodesia with the year 1966 divided
Lapel designer: Thomas Sasseen
Certification: PCGS PR65
PCGS Cert: 57608963