Australian two-cent coin
| Australia | |
| Value | 0.02 AUD |
|---|---|
| Mass | 5.20 g |
| Diameter | 21.59 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Composition |
97% copper 2.5% zinc 0.5% tin |
| Years of minting | 1966–1991 |
| Obverse | |
 | |
| Design | Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia |
| Designer | Raphael Maklouf |
| Design date | 1985 |
| Reverse | |
 | |
| Design | Frill-necked lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) |
| Designer | Stuart Devlin |
| Design date | 1966 |
The Australian two-cent coin was introduced in 1966 and was the coin of the second-lowest denomination until it was withdrawn from circulation in 1992 (along with the one-cent piece).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, but is subject to some restrictions.[1][2]
History
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.[3]
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.[4]
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, some of the coins were melted down to make bronze medals for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.[5]
Features
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.
References
- ↑ Reserve Bank of Australia
- ↑ Royal Australian Mint
- ↑ "Two cents". Ramint.gov.au. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ↑ "Coin Types from Australia". Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ↑ Press Release from the Royal Australian Mint 7 June 2000 Archived 18 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
Sources
- Ian W. Pitt, ed. (2000). Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Values (19th ed.). Chippendale, N.S.W.: Renniks Publications. ISBN 0-9585574-4-6.
- Prospect Stamps and Coins
| Preceded by Denomination Created |
Two Cents (Australian) 1966–1991 |
Succeeded by Denomination Abolished |