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The New Zealand two-cent coin was the second smallest denomination coin of the New Zealand dollar from the currency's introduction in 1967 to its demonetisation, along with the one-cent coin, in 1990. Its reverse featured two kowhai flowers, considered emblematic of New Zealand. Coins issued in 1967 circulated for 23 years before they were demonetised on 1 May 1990.
Due to an error at the Royal Mint in London, an estimated 50,000 coins were struck with an obverse die meant for the Bahama Islands; these have no date, as the respective five cent coin it was paired with had the date on the reverse. Many of these coins were released into circulation before the error was discovered. This variety is known as The Bahamas Mule and is listed separately. |
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| Obverse | |
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Diademed and draped bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (effigy known as the "Second portrait", by Arnold Machin); around, the monarch's legend ELIZABETH II NEW ZEALAND; below, the date 1967. |
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| Reverse | |
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Two curved kowhai flowers and leaves surrounding the figure 2 [cents] at lower right. The artist's initials JB (for [Reginald George] James Berry) are in tiny letters under the last leaf. |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | The mintage of this coin includes an estimated 50,000 error coins known as the "Bahamas mule", or "No Date" 1967 where the obverse was struck using the obverse die for the Bahama Islands 5 cents.
The John Bertrand Coin and Banknote Catalogue lists an additional 300,000 circulation coins, which is at variance with the mintage figure provided by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. |
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