designs & products
two dollars
The $2 coin was first introduced on 20 June 1988. Planning for a $2 coin commenced around the same time as that for the $1 coin. Like the $1 coin, the $2 coin replaced the note of the same denomination which had a short service life through high use.
A number of designers were invited to contribute designs for the $2 based on a design brief to include a representation of the head and shoulders of a traditional Australian Aboriginal, a representation of the Southern Cross and a representation of Australian flora. The selected design was prepared by Mr Horst Hahne, with inspiration taken from a drawing by Mr Ainslie Roberts.
The size of the $2 was determined after consideration of the needs of the visually impaired community, security considerations, a desire to avoid shaped coins, practical limitations to the diameter and thickness of coins, and to allow for future expansion of Australia's circulating coin array. When introduced, it was necessary to accommodate this new coin with seven existing denominations.
Nominal specifications
| composition | 92% copper 6% aluminium 2% nickel |
| shape | circular |
| edge | interrupted milled |
| mass (grams) | 6.60 |
| diameter (millimetres) | 20.50 |
Mintage figures
| Reverse Design | Year and design details | Production details All $2 coins have been struck at the Royal Australian Mint |
 |
1988-89 Designed by Horst Hahne. The 1988 and 1989 dated coins carried the designers initials. |
1988: 160.9 million, RAM |
 |
1990 Designed by Horst Hahne. The designers initials were removed from the coins from 1990 onwards. |
10.3 million, RAM |
No $2 coins were produced in 1991. |
||
|
1992-present Designed by Horst Hahne. The designers initials were removed from the coins from 1990 onwards. |
1992: 15.5 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.