Australian 2 cent coin
Encyclopedia
The Australian two-cent coin was introduced in 1966 and was the coin of the second-lowest denomination until it was withdrawn from circulation in 1992 (along with the one-cent piece). It is still counted as legal tender.
The coin entered circulation on 14 February 1966. In its first year of minting the coin was manufactured at three different mints: 145.2 million at the Royal Australian Mint
in Canberra
, 66.6 million at the Melbourne Mint
and 217.7 million at the Perth Mint
. The only year that the coins were minted outside Australia was 1981, when 70.8 million were struck at the British Royal Mint
in Llantrisant
, Wales
, in addition to 97.4 million from Canberra and 81.8 million from Perth. No two cent coins were struck in 1986 or 1987 and the last year of minting was 1989 .
From 1966 until 1984 the obverse featured the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin
. It was changed in 1985 to a version by Raphael Maklouf
, which remained until its demonetisation in 1992.
The decision to remove it was confirmed in the Treasurer's budget speech of 21 August 1991. The move was due to inflation
reducing its value, and the high cost of bronze. Around the same time other countries removed their bronze coins - New Zealand removed its one and two cent coins in 1990, while the United Kingdom and Ireland turned their bronze one and two pence coins into copper-plated steel.
After removal from circulation, the coins were melted down to make bronze medal
s for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
The reverse side of the coin featured the image of a Frill-necked Lizard
(Chlamydosaurus kingii, a reptile native to northern Australia and southern New Guinea
. The image was designed by Stuart Devlin
, who designed the reverses of all Australian decimal coins introduced in 1966.
The coin entered circulation on 14 February 1966. In its first year of minting the coin was manufactured at three different mints: 145.2 million at the Royal Australian Mint
Royal Australian Mint
The Royal Australian Mint is situated in the Australian federal capital city of Canberra, in the suburb of Deakin.Before the opening of the mint, Australian coins were struck at branches of the Royal Mint - the Sydney Mint, Melbourne Mint and Perth Mint. The Royal Australian Mint holds a place in...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, 66.6 million at the Melbourne Mint
Melbourne Mint
The Melbourne Mint, in Melbourne, Australia, was a branch of the British Royal Mint. Until 1916 it minted only gold sovereigns, and all Australian coins between 1927 and 1967...
and 217.7 million at the Perth Mint
Perth Mint
The Perth Mint is Australia's oldest currently operating mint ....
. The only year that the coins were minted outside Australia was 1981, when 70.8 million were struck at the British Royal Mint
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
in Llantrisant
Llantrisant
Llantrisant is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the River Ely and the Afon Clun. The town's name translates as The Parish of the Three Saints. The three saints in question are St Illtyd, St Gwynno and St...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, in addition to 97.4 million from Canberra and 81.8 million from Perth. No two cent coins were struck in 1986 or 1987 and the last year of minting was 1989 .
From 1966 until 1984 the obverse featured the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin
Arnold Machin
Arnold Machin O.B.E, R.A. was a British artist, sculptor, coin and stamp designer.Machin was born in Stoke-on-Trent in 1911. He started work at the age of 14 as an apprentice china painter at the Minton Pottery. During the Depression he learnt to sculpt at Stoke-on-Trent's Art School, which was...
. It was changed in 1985 to a version by Raphael Maklouf
Raphael Maklouf
Raphael Maklouf is a sculptor, best known for designing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II used on the coins of many Commonwealth nations....
, which remained until its demonetisation in 1992.
The decision to remove it was confirmed in the Treasurer's budget speech of 21 August 1991. The move was due to inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
reducing its value, and the high cost of bronze. Around the same time other countries removed their bronze coins - New Zealand removed its one and two cent coins in 1990, while the United Kingdom and Ireland turned their bronze one and two pence coins into copper-plated steel.
After removal from circulation, the coins were melted down to make bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
s for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
The reverse side of the coin featured the image of a Frill-necked Lizard
Frill-necked Lizard
The frill-necked lizard , also known as the frilled lizard or frilled dragon, is found mainly in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. Its name comes from the large frill around its neck, which usually stays folded against the lizard's body. It is largely arboreal, spending the majority of...
(Chlamydosaurus kingii, a reptile native to northern Australia and southern New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. The image was designed by Stuart Devlin
Stuart Devlin
Stuart Devlin is a significant contemporary gold and silversmith. Australian-born, he has designed coins for countries around the world, and became especially well known as London-based designer of gold and silver collector's items in the 1970s and 80s.Devlin was born in Geelong, Australia, and...
, who designed the reverses of all Australian decimal coins introduced in 1966.