Two Cents, Coin Type from Australia (showing photos)

Two Cents, Coin Type from Australia (issued 1966 - 1991)

Coin Type	Two Cents

The 2 cent coin was first introduced with decimalisation on 14 February 1966. The original reverse design has not been changed since the introduction.

Two cent coins were produced by the Royal Australian Mint, the Royal Mint, Melbourne, the Royal Mint, Perth, the Perth Mint and the Royal Mint, Llantrisant. The 2 cent coin was the last circulating coin for Australia struck outside the Royal Australian Mint.

The cessation of issue of one and two cent coins was announced by the Treasurer in his Budget Speech of 21 August 1990. The decision was based on the loss of real purchasing power through inflation and the cost of minting of these coins. The accompanying Press Release noted that "... 1c and 2c coins will continue to be legal tender: they can still be used to purchase goods and can be deposited with financial institutions in the normal manner." Both coins were withdrawn from circulation commencing in February 1992.

Obverse

Effigy of the ruling monarch, legend, date. Throughout the existence of the coin type, the monarch was Queen Elizabeth II.

The inclusion of an effigy of the Queen on the obverse of Australia's coinage is mandated by Regulation 4 (c) of the Currency Regulations made under the Currency Act 1965. Portraits of Her Majesty have all faced to the right in line with a convention, said to have commenced with Charles II (1660-1685), that the new Monarch's portrait would face in a direction opposite to that of their predecessor.

Obverse Inscription	ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA [year]

Reverse

The reverse features a frilled-neck lizard with neck frill extended and mouth open, designed and sculpted by Stuart Devlin.

The denomination numeral 2 [cents] is left of the lizard's head; below its body in (very) tiny letters, the designer's initials SD.

Reverse Inscription	2

Edge	Plain	Edge Inscription	None

Notes	If you keep your coins in 2x2 cardboard holders, the best size for one cent coins is 22.5mm.

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Coin Type: Two Cents - (29) Coins

Coin Name	Reverse	Obverse	Details
Two Cents 1966			Material: Bronze Mints: - Perth Mint: 217,735,000 - Royal Australian Mint: 145,354,404 - Melbourne Mint: 66,575,000 Total Mintage: 429,664,404
Two Cents 1967			Material: Bronze Mint: Perth Mint Mintage: 73,250,000
Two Cents 1968			Material: Bronze Mint: Perth Mint Mintage: 16,995,000
Two Cents 1969			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 12,953,000
Two Cents 1970			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 39,887,000
Two Cents 1971			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 60,745,000
Two Cents 1972			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 77,580,000
Two Cents 1973			Material: Bronze Mints: - Royal Australian Mint: 68,100,000 - Perth Mint: 26,000,000 Total Mintage: 94,068,000
Two Cents 1974			Material: Bronze Mints: - Royal Australian Mint: 91,700,000 - Perth Mint: 86,000,000 Total Mintage: 177,734,000
Two Cents 1975			Material: Bronze Mints: - Perth Mint: 67,000,000 - Royal Australian Mint: 33,100,000 Total Mintage: 100,068,000
Two Cents 1976			Material: Bronze Mints: - Royal Australian Mint: 71,900,000 - Perth Mint: 50,000,000 Total Mintage: 121,903,000
Two Cents 1977			Material: Bronze Mints: - Royal Australian Mint: 88,700,000 - Perth Mint: 30,000,000 Total Mintage: 102,055,000
Two Cents 1978			Material: Bronze Mints: - Royal Australian Mint: 88,700,000 - Perth Mint: 40,000,000 Total Mintage: 128,739,000
Two Cents 1979			Material: Bronze Mints: - Perth Mint: 40,000,000 - Royal Australian Mint: 29,700,000 Total Mintage: 69,741,000
Two Cents 1980			Material: Bronze Mints: - Royal Australian Mint: 105,600,000 - Perth Mint: 40,000,000 Total Mintage: 145,671,000
Two Cents 1981			Material: Bronze Mints: - Royal Australian Mint: 97,400,000 - Perth Mint: 81,800,000 - Royal Mint: 70,800,000 Total Mintage: 247,386,000
Two Cents 1982			Material: Bronze Mints: - Royal Australian Mint: 81,300,000 - Perth Mint: 40,400,000 Total Mintage: 121,870,000
Two Cents 1983			Material: Bronze Mints: - Royal Australian Mint: 156,600,000 - Perth Mint: 20,700,000 Total Mintage: 177,307,000
Two Cents 1984			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 58,024,000
Two Cents 1985			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 32,600,000
Two Cents 1986 (mint sets only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 247,000
Two Cents 1987 (mint sets only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 270,000
Two Cents 1988			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 29,011,000
Two Cents 1989			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 124,500,000
Two Cents 1990 (mint sets only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 156,000
Two Cents 1991 (mint sets only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 189,000
Two Cents 2006 (mint sets only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 84,407
Two Cents 2010 (Proof only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 400
Two Cents 2016 (mint sets only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 10,000

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Two Cents: Details

Country	Australia
Currency	Australian Dollar
From	1966
To	1991
Face Value	2 (x Cent)
Current	Yes; withdrawn 1992
Material	Bronze
Designer	Stuart Devlin
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Size	21.5900 mm
Mass	5.2000 g

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Gold Coins of the World: From Ancient Times to the Present

Two Cents: Photos

Image	Details
	Australia, Elizabeth II, 2 Cents, 1981 Copyright: NumisCorner.com Source
	Australia, Elizabeth II, 2 Cents, 1981 Copyright: NumisCorner.com Source
	Australia, Elizabeth II, 2 Cents, 1985 Copyright: NumisCorner.com Source

Relevant Links

Royal Australian Mint: two cents

Australian two-cent coin - Wikipedia

Two Cents, Coin Type from Australia - detailed information