designs & products

two cents

The 2 cent coin was first introduced with decimalisation on 14 February 1966. The original reverse design has not been changed since the introduction.

Two cent coins were produced by the Royal Australian Mint, the Royal Mint, Melbourne, the Royal Mint, Perth, the Perth Mint and the Royal Mint, Llantrisant. The 2 cent coin was the last circulating coin for Australia struck outside the Royal Australian Mint.

The cessation of issue of one and two cent coins was announced by the Treasurer in his Budget Speech of 21 August 1990. The decision was based on the loss of real purchasing power through inflation and the cost of minting of these coins. The accompanying Press Release noted that "..1c and 2c coins will continue to be legal tender: they can still be used to purchase goods and can be deposited with financial institutions in the normal manner." Both coins were withdrawn from circulation commencing in February 1992.

Nominal specifications

composition	97% copper 2.5% zinc 0.5% tin
shape	circular
edge	plain
mass (grams)	5.20
diameter (millimetres)	21.59

Mintage figures

Reverse Design	Year and design details	Production details RAM = Royal Australian Mint RCM = Royal Canadian Mint RML = Royal Mint, London RMLL= Royal Mint, Llantrisant RMP = Royal Mint, Perth PM = Perth Mint
	1966-1989 A representation of a frilled lizard designed and sculpted by Stuart Devlin.	1966: 145.2 million, RAM 1966: 66.6 million, RMM 1966: 217.7 million, RMP 1967: 73.3 million, RMP 1968: 17 million, RMP 1969: 12.9 million, RAM 1970: 39.9 million, RAM 1971: 60.7 million, RAM 1972: 77.6 million, RAM 1973: 68.1 million, RAM 1973: 26 million, PM 1974: 91.7 million, RAM 1974: 86 million, PM 1975: 33.1 million, RAM 1975: 67 million, PM 1976: 71.9 million, RAM 1976: 50 million, PM 1977: 88.7 million, RAM 1977: 30 million, PM 1978: 88.7 million, RAM 1978: 40 million, PM 1979: 29.7 million, RAM 1979: 40 million,PM 1980: 105.6 million, RAM 1980: 40 million, PM 1981: 97.4 million, RAM 1981: 81.8 million, PM 1981: 70.8 million, RMLL 1982: 81.3 million, RAM 1982: 40.4 million, PM 1983: 156.6 million, RAM 1983: 20.7 million, PM 1984: 58 million, RAM 1985: 32.6 million, RAM
No 2 cents were produced in 1986 or 1987
		1988: 28.9 million, RAM 1989: 124.5 million, RAM

Notes for using these tables: These are final mintages where the numbers have been published in an Annual Report and all coins have been issued. Items marked not available will be updated when they pass the Annual Report and issue test.