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The two dollar coin denomination (written as $2) was introduced on 20 June 1988, when it replaced the banknote of the same value. The reverse design by Horst Hahne features a representation of the head and shoulders of a traditional Australian Aboriginal elder (hence the popular name for the coin type, the Aboriginal Elder), a representation of the Southern Cross and a representation of Australian flora. It was inspired by a drawing by Mr Ainslie Roberts depicting aboriginal man Gwoya Jungarai, hence the coin being listed as "Gwoya Jungarai" type in some recent catalogues.
Coins issued in 2001 have now been in circulation for 19 years. |
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| Obverse | |
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Crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In tiny letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the date: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2001.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse design includes a representation of the head and shoulders of a traditional Australian Aboriginal (half-length figure of Aboriginal male, bare-chested, facing three-quarters right), a representation of the Southern Cross and a representation of Australian flora. To the right, in two lines, the value and denomination 2 DOLLARS. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
2 DOLLARS |
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| Edge | Milled interrupted (20 notches in 4 sections) | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Mintage figure includes:
3,565,000 circulation coins dated 2001, minted in the 2001/2002 financial year (ending 30 June)
103,434 brilliant uncirculated coins in sets, minted 2000/2001
19,882 brilliant uncirculated coins in sets, minted 2001/2002
66,421 proofs, minted 2000/2001
8,159 proofs, minted 2001/2002
Sources of original information:
Royal Australian Mint, Annual Report 2000 - 2001 (2001), p55. Retrieved from https://www.ramint.gov.au/annual-reports (PDF)
Royal Australian Mint, Annual Report 2001 - 2002 (2002), pp 53, 55. Retrieved from https://www.ramint.gov.au/annual-reports (PDF) |
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