| Coin | Two Dollars 2023 Remembrance Day (Poppy) |
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The two dollar coin denomination (written as $2) was introduced in Australia in 1988, replacing the earlier banknotes. The original reverse design by Horst Hahne on circulating coins has not been changed since its introduction. The denomination is also often used to issue circulating commemorative coins with various reverses.
Apart from the circulating coinage, both the Royal Australian Mint and the Perth Mint have extensive programs issuing $2 coins for collectors (Non-Circulating Legal Tender, or NCLT), such as this one.
Issued to honour those lost in all wars, the Royal Australian Mint's 2012 Remembrance Day $2 commemorative coin was unquestionably one of the major numismatic highlights of 2012. It was Australia's first circulating commemorative in the two dollar denomination, and the first to be issued in colour. Since the colouring technique was still experimental, only a small number of coins had colour applied to them; these are now a "key date" for coin collectors.
The design has been re-issued as non-circulating legal tender (NCLT) since then, including in 2023 as part of a set commemorating the 35th anniversary of the $2 denomination. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait" worldwide but "Sixth Portrait" in Australia, where the Queen's portrait by Vladimir Gottwald was fifth).
The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen mother) in 1937.
Unlike on British coinage, the effigy is "uncouped" (includes the Queen's shoulders) and extends almost to the rim of the coin; consequently, the legend does not run continuously around the rim.
The artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark) are in tiny letters below left.
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the date: ELIZABETH II 1952 - 2022 · AUSTRALIA 2023.
The legend is interrupted by the "memorial" inclusion of the dates of the Queen's reign, 1952 - 2022. |
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| Reverse | |
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At centre, the coin features a poppy flower - the international symbol for Remembrance Day commemorating those fallen in World War One. On a limited number of coins the poppy is coloured red and black.
The background of the central circle contains the words REMEMBRANCE DAY"in microtext repeated and presented in 11 rows, and the words LEST WE FORGET in microtext in inverse order (facing in the other direction), repeated and presented in 11 rows.
Around above, the face value TWO DOLLARS. Around below, separated by it by two small poppy flowers in the rim, the inscription REMEMBRANCE. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
TWO DOLLARS REMEMBRANCE |
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| Edge | Milled interrupted (20 notches in 4 sections) | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Mintage includes 35,000 plain and 35,000 coloured Brilliant Uncirculated coins in the 15-coin set.
The coins were issued during the reign of King Charles III; however, as his effigy was not yet approved for use in Australia, they feature a "memorial" obverse with the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the dates of her reign, 1952 - 2022. |
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| Included in Set |
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35th Anniversary of The Two Dollar Coin, mintage 35,000, limited to 35,000
14 coins: $2 Remembrance Day (Plain Poppy), $2 Remembrance Day (Red Poppy), $2 Remembrance Day (Green), $2 Lest We Forget (Red), $2 Remembrance Day (Orange), $2 Lest We Forget (Coloured Mosaic), $2 Remembrance Day (Blue and Green), $2 Lest We Forget (Eternal Flame), $2 Invictus Games, $2 Firefighters (Orange), $2 Indigenous Military Service (Coloured), $2 Ambulance Services (Green), $2 Frontline Workers (Grey), $2 Honey Bee (Orange)
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