Two Cents 1997, Coin from South Africa

Two Cents 1997, Coin from South Africa (withdrawn 2002)

Coin	Two Cents 1997

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. The first type of Two Cents was made of bronze and was issued until 1990. The denomination was changed to a smaller copper-plated steel version issued until 2001, after which time it was discontinued.

The steel coins have a new reverse design, and a revised obverse showing a re-engraved Coat of Arms of South Africa; the legend was bilingual (Afrikaans and English) from 1990 to 1995, then one language only - Venda. The obverse was updated to the new Coat of Arms of the country halfway through 2000, so some coins dated 2000 have the old version and some carry the new Coat of Arms.

2001 was the last year of issue. On 28th March 2002 the South African Reserve Bank announced that it will cease the distribution for circulation of one and two cent coins as of 31st March 2002, citing high production costs - saying that it costs approximately 9 cents to produce a 1 cent South African coin and approximately 11 cents to produce a 2 cent South African coin.

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.

Thus, 2c coins issued in 1997 circulated for only five years until they withdrawn from circulation.

Mint	South African Mint	Mint Mark	No mint mark	Total Mintage	158,011,111 (158.0 million)

Obverse

The obverse of the coin displays the Coat of Arms of South Africa at its centre. Below the Coat of Arms, the initials of the engraver: ALS (for Arthur Sutherland).

Around above, the name of the country in Venda: AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE.

Above, the date of issue: 1997.

Obverse Inscription	AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 1997

Reverse

The reverse of the coin shows a flying eagle over sea waves, carrying a fish in its talons.

Divided by the eagle, the abbreviated value and denomination 2c (two cents).

In tiny letters in the lower left field, the initials of the designer: ALS (for Arthur Sutherland).

Reverse Inscription	2c

Edge	Plain	Edge Inscription	None

Two Cents 1997: Known varieties

Variety	Proof
Mintage	Issued: 3,596 (included in total)
Variety	Brilliant Uncirculated
Mintage	Issued: 7,515 (included in total)

All (44) coins of type: Two Cents

Coin Name	Mintage	Symbol	Legend
Two Cents 1965 (English)	29,887,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SOUTH AFRICA 1965
Two Cents 1965 (Afrikaans)	29,912,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SUID-AFRIKA 1965
Two Cents 1966 (English)	9,292,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SOUTH AFRICA 1966
Two Cents 1966 (Afrikaans)	9,267,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SUID-AFRIKA 1966
Two Cents 1967 (English)	11,887,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SOUTH AFRICA 1967
Two Cents 1967 (Afrikaans)	11,862,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SUID-AFRIKA 1967
Two Cents 1968 Swart (English)	5,500,000		SOUTH AFRICA 1968
Two Cents 1968 Swart (Afrikaans)	5,550,000		SUID-AFRIKA 1968
Two Cents 1969 (English)	5,829,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SOUTH AFRICA 1969
Two Cents 1969 (Afrikaans)	5,817,000	Jan van Riebeeck (right)	SUID-AFRIKA 1969
Two Cents 1970	35,227,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1970 *
Two Cents 1971	24,105,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1971 *
Two Cents 1972	7,314,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1972 *
Two Cents 1973	18,696,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1973 *
Two Cents 1974	25,316,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1974 *
Two Cents 1975	25,000,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1975 *
Two Cents 1976 Fouché	51,495,000		SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1976 *
Two Cents 1977	45,135,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1977 *
Two Cents 1978	50,544,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1978 *
Two Cents 1979 Diederichs	40,058,000		SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1979 *
Two Cents 1980	37,810,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1980 *
Two Cents 1981	79,360,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1981 *
Two Cents 1982 Vorster	53,974,000		SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA * 1982 *
Two Cents 1983	112,589,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1983 *
Two Cents 1984	101,508,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1984 *
Two Cents 1985	102,717,859	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1985 *
Two Cents 1986	683,301,100	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1986 *
Two Cents 1987	104,987,781	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1987 *
Two Cents 1988	182,043,250	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1988 *
Two Cents 1989	213,638,721	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1989 *
Two Cents 1990 (Bronze)	215,192,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SOUTH AFRICA * SUID-AFRIKA * 1990 *
Two Cents 1990 (Steel)	44,938	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1990
Two Cents 1991	133,026,800	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1991
Two Cents 1992	215,025,350	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1992
Two Cents 1993	160,018,692	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1993
Two Cents 1994	108,012,590	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1994
Two Cents 1995	198,014,293	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	SUID-AFRIKA * SOUTH AFRICA 1995
Two Cents 1996	305,016,503	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 1996
Two Cents 1997	158,011,111	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 1997
Two Cents 1998	282,007,538	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 1998
Two Cents 1999	166,009,299	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 1999
Two Cents 2000 (Old CoA)	263,011,470	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910	AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 2000
Two Cents 2000 (New CoA)	263,000,000	Coat of Arms of South Africa	AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 2000
Two Cents 2001	276,003,678	Coat of Arms of South Africa	AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE 2001

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Two Cents 1997: Details

Country	South Africa
Currency	Rand
Coin Type	Two Cents, Steel
Issued	1997
Symbol	Coat of Arms of South Africa, 1910
Face Value	2 (x Rand)
Circulation Mintage	158,000,000 (158.0 million)
Total Mintage	158,011,111 (158.0 million)
Current	No; withdrawn 2002
Material	Copper-plated Steel
Designer	Arthur Sutherland
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size	18.0000 mm
Thickness	1.8000 mm
Mass	3.0000 g
OCC ID	ANMQ-OPYC-VRKD-EJYG

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Two Cents 1997: Photos

Image	Details
	Coin, South Africa, 2 Cents 1997 Copyright: NumisCorner.com Source
	Coin, South Africa, 2 Cents 1997 Copyright: NumisCorner.com Source

Two Cents 1997: Catalogue Reference IDs

Source	Reference ID
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins	South Africa KM# 159
Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns	Hern# Nb8
Schön, Weltmünzkatalog	Schön# 216

Relevant Links

2 Cents (Venda Legend - AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE) - South Africa – Numista

Two Cents 1997, Coin from South Africa - detailed information