Two Pence, Coin Type from United Kingdom (showing photos)

Two Pence, Coin Type from United Kingdom (issued 1971 - )

Coin Type	Two Pence

The British decimal two pence (2p) coin - often pronounced two pee - is a unit of currency equalling two one-hundredths of a pound sterling. Its obverse has featured the profile of Queen Elizabeth II since the coin’s introduction in 1971, the year British currency was decimalised. Four different portraits of the Queen have been used on the coin, with the latest design by Jody Clark being introduced in 2015. The second and current reverse, featuring a segment of the Royal Shield, was introduced in 2008.

One penny and two pence coins are legal tender only up to the sum of 20p; this means that it is permissible to refuse payment of sums greater than this amount in 1p and 2p coins in order to settle a debt.

The two pence coin was originally minted from bronze, but since 1992 it has been minted in copper-plated steel due to the increasing price of metal. By May 2006 the pre-1992 (97% copper) coins contained 3p worth of copper each. During 2008, the value of copper fell dramatically from these peaks.

Obverse
Effigy of the ruling British monarch, legend (in Latin), date.

Obverse Inscription	Legend of the ruling British monarch, date

Reverse

There have been two reverse designs of the two pence coin.

The original design by Christopher Ironside featured, within a beaded circle, the Badge of the Prince of Wales: a plume of three ostrich feathers within a coronet, above the incuse German motto ICH DIEN ("I serve"). The numeral value 2 is written below the badge, and either the denomination is given above either as NEW PENCE (1971–1981) or TWO PENCE (1982 and later); a small number of 1983 NEW PENCE coins exist.

This was superseded in 2008 by a new design by Matthew Dent. In a world-first concept, the designs for the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p coins depict sections of the Royal Shield that form the whole shield when placed together. The shield in its entirety is featured on the £1 coin.

The two pence coin depicts the second quarter of the Royal Shield, showing the Lion Rampant from the Royal Banner of Scotland, with the value and denomination TWO PENCE around above. Unlike the earlier reverse, there is no beading (ring of dots) around the coin's circumference.

Reverse Inscription	2 NEW PENCE (1971 - 1981), 2 TWO PENCE (1982 - 2008), TWO PENCE (2008 - present)

Edge	Plain	Edge Inscription	None

Coin Type: Two Pence - (56) Coins

Coin Name	Reverse	Obverse	Details
Two Pence 1971			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,455,206,250
Two Pence 1972 (Proof only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 150,000
Two Pence 1973 (Proof only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 100,000
Two Pence 1974 (Proof only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 100,000
Two Pence 1975			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 145,645,000
Two Pence 1976			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 181,479,000
Two Pence 1977			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 109,474,800
Two Pence 1978			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 189,744,100
Two Pence 1979			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 260,281,000
Two Pence 1980			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 408,670,400
Two Pence 1981			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 353,291,300
Two Pence 1982 (mint sets only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 311,800
Two Pence 1983 (mint sets only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 744,900
Two Pence 1984 (mint sets only)			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 265,340
Two Pence 1985			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 107,393,390
Two Pence 1986			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 169,239,321
Two Pence 1987			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 218,361,834
Two Pence 1988			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 420,102,381
Two Pence 1989			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 359,389,273
Two Pence 1990			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 204,681,358
Two Pence 1991			Material: Bronze Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 86,755,369
Two Pence 1992			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 102,387,747
Two Pence 1993			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 235,797,025
Two Pence 1994			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 531,872,692
Two Pence 1995			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 124,648,286
Two Pence 1996			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 296,432,082
Two Pence 1997			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 496,306,305
Two Pence 1998			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 213,989,862
Two Pence 1999			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 354,032,840
Two Pence 2000			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 536,849,219
Two Pence 2001			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 551,987,113
Two Pence 2002			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 168,677,309
Two Pence 2003			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 260,381,512
Two Pence 2004			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 356,515,637
Two Pence 2005			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 280,518,263
Two Pence 2006			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 170,774,798
Two Pence 2007			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 254,630,093
Two Pence 2008 (Ironside design)			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 10,772,577
Two Pence 2008 (Dent design)			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 241,799,000
Two Pence 2009			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 150,641,270
Two Pence 2010			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 99,690,000
Two Pence 2011			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 144,340,000
Two Pence 2012			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 67,903,802
Two Pence 2013			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 40,646,937
Two Pence 2014			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 247,642,614
Two Pence 2015 (Fourth Portrait)			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 85,945,762
Two Pence 2015 (Fifth Portrait)			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 139,225,285
Two Pence 2016			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 185,648,830
Two Pence 2017			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 16,653,481
Two Pence 2018 (mint sets only)			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 33,086
Two Pence 2019 (mint sets only)			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 44,158
Two Pence 2020 (mint sets only)			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 56,468
Two Pence 2021			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 117,752,674
Two Pence 2022 (mint sets only)			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 101,120
Two Pence 2023 Red Squirrel (mint sets only)			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: unknown
Two Pence 2024			Material: Copper-plated steel Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: unknown

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Two Pence: Details

Country	United Kingdom
Currency	Pound Sterling
Sub-types	Two Pence (Ironside design, Bronze) Two Pence (Ironside design, Steel) Two Pence (Dent design) Two Pence (Squirrel)
From	1971
Face Value	2 (x Penny)
Current	Yes
Material
Designer
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size
Mass

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Two Pence: Photos

Image	Details
	Coin, Great Britain, Elizabeth II, 2 Pence, 1986 Copyright: NumisCorner.com Notes: Christopher Ironside reverse (1971 - 2008). Source
	Coin, Great Britain, 2 Pence, 2010 Copyright: NumisCorner.com Notes: Matthew Dent reverse (2008 - present). Source
	Coin, Great Britain, Elizabeth II, 2 Pence, 1984 Copyright: NumisCorner.com Notes: Queen Elizabeth II, Second Portrait (1971 - 1984). Source
	Coin, Great Britain, Elizabeth II, 2 Pence, 1986 Copyright: NumisCorner.com Notes: Queen Elizabeth II, Third Portrait (1985 - 1997). Source
	Coin, Great Britain, 2 Pence, 2002 Copyright: NumisCorner.com Notes: Queen Elizabeth II, Fourth Portrait (1998 - 2015). Source

Relevant Links

The Royal Mint Museum: Two pence coin

Two Pence, Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information