Two Cents, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information

Two Cents, Coin Type from South Africa (issued 1965 - 2001)
Coin TypeTwo Cents

The South African Two Cents coin (abbreviated as 2c) was a small circulating coin of the Rand currency. Unlike the other denominations, it was not created at decimalisation on 14 February 1961 - there was a 2½ (two and a half cents) coin instead. This was short-lived though and was discontinued only four years later.

When South Africa introduced its Second Decimal Coinage in 1965, there was a Two Cents denomination in it.

The first type of Two Cents was made of bronze and was issued until 1990. This was changed to a smaller copper-plated steel version issued until 2001, after which time the denomination was discontinued.

Apart from the regular designs, there were also four commemorative issues with different obverses.

The denomination has not been demonetised and the coins are still legal tender throughout the Common Monetary Area, although in practice they do not circulate due to their low value.

Obverse
South Africa / Two Cents - obverse photo

The first obverse (1965 - 1969), designed by Tommy Sasseen, has a portrait of Jan van Riebeeck facing right; the legend is in one language only - either SOUTH AFRICA or SUID-AFRIKA, with both versions issued every year.

The second obverse (1970 - 1999) displays the Coat of Arms of South Africa at its centre.

Around left, the name of the country in English: SOUTH AFRICA; around right, the name in Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKA.

Below, the date of issue: * [year] *.

After 1996, the legend was changed to one language only: AFURIKA TSHIPEMBE in Venda. The Coat of Arms was updated to the new one in 2000.
Obverse Inscription SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * [year] *
Reverse
South Africa / Two Cents - reverse photo

The first reverse design (1965 - 1990) shows a bucking Wildebeest at its centre. Below right, in small letters the initials of the designer JvZ (for Jan van Zyl).

Below, the numeral value 2 (two cents).
Reverse Inscription 2c
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Coin Type: Two Cents - (44) Coins
Coin NameMintageSymbolLegend
Two Cents 1965 (English) 29,887,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1965
Two Cents 1965 (Afrikaans) 29,912,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1965
Two Cents 1966 (English) 9,292,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1966
Two Cents 1966 (Afrikaans) 9,267,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1966
Two Cents 1967 (English) 11,887,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1967
Two Cents 1967 (Afrikaans) 11,862,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1967
Two Cents 1968 Swart (English) 5,500,000 SOUTH AFRICA 1968
Two Cents 1968 Swart (Afrikaans) 5,550,000 SUID-AFRIKA 1968
Two Cents 1969 (English) 5,829,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SOUTH AFRICA 1969
Two Cents 1969 (Afrikaans) 5,817,000 Jan van Riebeeck (right) SUID-AFRIKA 1969
Two Cents 1970 35,227,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1970 *
Two Cents 1971 24,105,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1971 *
Two Cents 1972 7,314,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1972 *
Two Cents 1973 18,696,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1973 *
Two Cents 1974 25,316,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1974 *
Two Cents 1975 25,000,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1975 *
Two Cents 1976 Fouché 51,495,000 SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1976 *
Two Cents 1977 45,135,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1977 *
Two Cents 1978 50,544,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1978 *
Two Cents 1979 Diederichs 40,058,000 SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1979 *
Two Cents 1980 37,810,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1980 *
Two Cents 1981 79,360,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1981 *
Two Cents 1982 Vorster 53,974,000 SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1982 *
Two Cents 1983 112,589,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1983 *
Two Cents 1984 101,508,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1984 *
Two Cents 1985 102,717,859 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1985 *
Two Cents 1986 683,301,100 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1986 *
Two Cents 1987 104,987,781 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1987 *
Two Cents 1988 182,043,250 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1988 *
Two Cents 1989 213,638,721 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1989 *
Two Cents 1990 (Bronze) 215,192,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1990 *
Two Cents 1990 (Steel) 44,938 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1990
Two Cents 1991 133,026,800 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1991
Two Cents 1992 215,025,350 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1992
Two Cents 1993 160,018,692 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1993
Two Cents 1994 108,012,590 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1994
Two Cents 1995 198,014,293 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1995
Two Cents 1996 305,016,503 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 1996
Two Cents 1997 158,011,111 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 1997
Two Cents 1998 282,007,538 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 1998
Two Cents 1999 166,009,299 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 1999
Two Cents 2000 (Old CoA) 263,011,470 Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910 AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 2000
Two Cents 2000 (New CoA) 263,000,000 Coat of Arms of South Africa AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 2000
Two Cents 2001 276,003,678 Coat of Arms of South Africa AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 2001
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Two Cents: Details
CountrySouth Africa
CurrencyRand
Sub-types Two Cents, Bronze
Two Cents, Steel
From1965
To2001
Face Value2 (x Cent)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 2003
Material
Designer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size
Mass
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