Since 1945, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has been listing sites as "World Heritage". The aim of this programme is to classify, name and conserve cultural or natural properties of importance to the common heritage of humanity. The programme was founded by the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted at the UNESCO General Conference on 16th November 1972. In 2019, 1,073 properties in 167 countries are listed.
In 2026, Table Mountain will be honoured.
The Cape Floral Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, is one of the world’s most exceptional areas in terms of plant biodiversity.
Located in the south-western corner of South Africa, it comprises a network of national parks, nature reserves and mountainous landscapes that together form a true ecological sanctuary. This region is distinguished by the unique richness of the fynbos, a vegetation adapted to the Mediterranean climate and wildfires, which is home to a remarkable number of endemic species.
Of the approximately 9,000 plant species recorded, nearly 70% are found nowhere else, making this region one of the greatest concentrations of biodiversity on the planet. Beyond its diversity, this landscape illustrates rare ecological and evolutionary processes, including varied pollination methods and mechanisms for adapting to fire, which make it a unique natural laboratory. In this context, Table Mountain plays an emblematic role: this iconic formation, which dominates the city of Cape Town, is home to an exceptional diversity of flora and symbolises the spectacular meeting of wilderness and the urban environment. It embodies the region’s strong visual identity and contributes to its international recognition. In 2021, a major fire ravaged part of its slopes and surrounding areas, serving as a stark reminder of the need to preserve this globally unique ecosystem.
By honouring it, Monnaie de Paris highlights the universal importance of this exceptional site, where nature, landscape and biodiversity converge.
The obverse of the coin features the silhouette of Table Mountain, which forms the centrepiece of the design. Its simple, instantly recognisable shape provides a strong focal point for the design. Surrounding it, the protected areas of the Cape Floral Region are depicted through a rich landscape that evokes the biodiversity of this unique environment. A protea, South Africa’s national flower, features in the foreground. It serves to highlight the site’s uniqueness and natural richness. The design as a whole thus evokes the Cape, striking a balance between a strong landmark and the delicacy of the flora.
The reverse is common to all the coins in the UNESCO Wolrd Heritage series. It depicts the globe with parallels and meridians on the left-hand side and inscriptions of major UNESCO World Heritage sites on the right-hand side. The inscriptions are engraved in stone, echoing the Rosetta Stone. The left-hand side of the globe is surrounded by the UNESCO logo and the words "World Heritage". The face value is inscribed on the left-hand side of the globe, blending in perfectly with the parallels and meridians.
