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SARB Opens Pretoria Museum and Issues R2 Coin Commemorating 1976 Soweto Uprising

The initiative aims to boost public trust by explaining how the central bank works through exhibits that show how policy affects prices and savings.

Overview

  • The South African Reserve Bank unveiled its renovated head office and public museum in Pretoria on Friday, June 19, 2026, and launched a limited‑edition R2 coin marking the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto uprising.
  • Exhibits span prehistoric exchange at Mapungubwe, more than 300 years of coinage, South Africa’s 134‑year‑old minting press and the bank’s art collection to link monetary history with cultural heritage.
  • Officials said the museum is meant to demystify central‑bank work, correct misconceptions about hidden reserves and explain the SARB’s constitutional role in keeping inflation low and safeguarding savings.
  • Education features include school outreach, interactive displays and a Monetary Policy Committee simulation designed to improve financial literacy and encourage careers in economics.
  • The SARB announced plans for further circulating commemorative coins for Charlotte Maxeke in August and the Constitution in December, but it has not yet set a date for general public opening of the museum.