The sterling-silver R1 represents the Freedom Charter, a historic document accepted at the Congress of the People in Kliptown on 26 June 1955. The design features the ten demands representing the people’s hopes and aspirations for a ‘new’ South Africa.

The group of people featured on the coin represents the approximately 3 000 delegates present at the Congress of the People. Nelson Mandela is shown among these individuals as he did not formally participate in the day’s events due to a banning order.