Two Cents, Bronze, Coin Type from South Africa - detailed information

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. This first type of Two Cents was made of bronze and was issued until 1990. The first kind of bronze coins had a portrait of Jan van Riebeeck on the obverse and a legend in one language only; each year, two versions of the coin were issued - one in English and one in Afrikaans; this was also the case with the commemorative issue in 1968. In 1970, the obverse was changed to the Coat of Arms of South Africa with a bilingual legend.

Between 1970 and 1983, the designer's initials below the Coat of Arms were T.S. for Tommy Sasseen; the obverse was then re-engraved and between 1985 and 1989 the signature was A.L.S. for Arthur Sutherland (no signature at all in 1984).

The denomination was changed to a smaller copper-plated steel version issued until 2001, after which time it was discontinued.

Apart from the regular designs, there were also three 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.