Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- Microsoft Copilot was used to create some visual elements for the new R2 coin marking the 1956 Women’s March.
- SA Mint artist Lilian Guerra designed the layout and typography, while AI helped adapt images and create foreground figures.
The South African Reserve Bank has confirmed that artificial intelligence helped create parts of one of its new R2 coins.
According to MyBroadband, Microsoft Copilot was used during the design of the commemorative coin marking the 1956 Women’s March.
The Reserve Bank launched two new R2 coins at the end of August.
One honours Charlotte Maxeke, the first black woman in South Africa to graduate with a university degree.
The other shows four women marching with placards in front of the Union Buildings.
MyBroadband questioned the Reserve Bank after noticing that the Women’s March coin had a different visual style from the other designs.
The SARB confirmed that SA Mint Senior Artist Lilian Guerra designed the composition, layout and typography.
“The design combines photographic references with AI-assisted elements,” the bank said.
Microsoft Copilot was used to adapt the look of Guerra’s photographs and drawings so they fitted the wider style of the coin.
The AI tool was also used to generate the foreground figures showing the women marching.
Guerra has worked as an artist at the SA Mint since 1999 and has helped create several special coins.
She said she enjoys experimenting with digital tools but still values traditional methods such as hand-drawn illustrations and clay models.
The two new R2 coins were declared legal tender on 16 June.
They remain ordinary R2 coins and are not worth more than their face value.
Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago said the coins were created to honour South African women and their history.
Pictured above: The Women’s March R2 coin.
Image source: South African Reserve Bank/X
