Modern Mining August 2024

SRG customised client coin for SABS –Carling Black Label competition.

Multi-metal 99.99% AU & 99.99% AG (front & back).

trading at R2 590 per gram, making it a prized gift or investment option. In tandem with producing a rhodium coin, SRG has engineered a technique for creating a stunning multi-metal coin – an offering which infuses different precious metals, such as rose-gold, gold or white gold with silver and PGMs. “Each multi-metal coin is unique because it is melded with varying quantities of different precious metals with each infusion producing a one-of-a-kind pattern. No two coins are alike – and in a world of mass production, owning a piece of jewellery that is unique is highly valued.” Interestingly, a benefit associated with producing a multi metal coin, is the speed at which the coin can be processed, going directly from refining to minting. “One of the biggest challenges associated with manufacturing luxury pieces,” Tanur explains, “is the legal implications of meeting the exact weight for each coin or bar and, as refiners, we overcompensate, which over time means a significant loss in revenue. However, the casting of multi-metal

SRG custom jewellery.

the precious metals, is four times more valuable than gold. Having worked with gold, silver and platinum for over a decade, SRG’s strategy is to expand its focus to other metals in the PGM basket, namely palladium and rhodium. South Africa possesses 80% of the world’s platinum group metals reserves and is the world’s largest producer of PGMs, accounting for close to 60% of global production, which is all the more reason for local refiners to be pushing the creative boundary to develop exotic luxury goods for the international market, says Tanur. “There exists a massive gap in the market for the local industry to produce novel items crafted from the basket of PGMs for the export market. As precious metals refiners, our focus is to use what is locally produced to design and manufacture high-end luxury goods for the world market.” Although rhodium coins are produced internationally, SRG, which is targeting affluent customers and investors, is one of few minters producing rhodium coins locally. Rhodium is currently

Gold annual rate of return

According to Statistics South Africa, between January 1971 and March 2024, gold had average annual returns of 7.98 percent, which was only slightly behind the return of commodities, with an annual average of eight percent. The annual average return of gold in 2023 was 13.1 percent.

AUGUST 2024 | www.modernminingmagazine.co.za  MODERN MINING  21