Australian two-dollar coin

Two dollars
Australia
Value 2.00 AUD
Mass 6.60 g
Diameter 20.50 mm
Thickness 2.80 mm
Edge interrupted milled
20 notches
Composition 92% Copper, 6% Aluminium, 2% Nickel
Years of minting 1988–present
Catalog number —
Obverse
Design Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia
Designer Ian Rank-Broadley
Design date 1999
Reverse
Design Male Aboriginal Elder
Designer Horst Hahne
Design date 1987

The Australian 2 dollar coin is the highest-denomination coin of the Australian dollar. It was first issued on 20 June 1988, having been in planning since the mid-1970s. It replaced the Australian two-dollar note due to having a longer circulatory life.[1]

Design

In accordance with all other Australian coins, the obverse features the portrait of the reigning monarch, who during the lifetime of the coin has only been Queen Elizabeth II. From 1988 to 1998 the portrait of her was by Raphael Maklouf before being replaced in the following year by one sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley.[2]

Designed by Horst Hahne, the reverse depicts an Aboriginal Elder, inspired by an Ainslie Roberts drawing of Gwoya Jungarai, known as One Pound Jimmy.[3][4] However, the design is not intended to depict any person in particular.[5] The design also incorporates the Southern Cross and native grasstrees. The initials of its designer, Horst Hahne, were removed from the design from 1990 onwards.[1]

All two-dollar coins have been struck at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra. 160.9 million coins were minted in the first year of issue.[4] It has been issued in all years since except 1991,[4] with an average mintage of 22 million coins per annum from 1989 to 2008.

The 2012 Remembrance reverse $2 coin.

In 2012, the Australian mint released the first ever different designed 2 dollar coin. It features a poppy flower, with the words LEST WE FORGET and REMEMBRANCE DAY in the background of the coin. There had been no commemorative designs for this issue, until the 2012 Remembrance coin was minted. Along with the 2012 Remembrance coin was a coin with the same text and image but the centre poppy was red with a black centre. It was therefore the first coloured circulating coin in Australia. On 21 June 2013, a third commemorative 2 dollar coin was launched by the Royal Australian Mint. This coin, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, featured a purple circle bordering St Edward's Crown.[6] As a part of the 100 years of ANZAC coin programme launched by the Royal Australian Mint, two separate coloured coins were released. The first was released in 2014, it featured two green circles in the middle of the coin and a dove in the centre. The word REMEMBRANCE was stretched across the top of the coin. In 2015, the fourth circulating coloured coin in Australia was released. It includes red stripes much like the 2013 Queen Coronation coin. It also features five crosses amongst poppies and the words LEST WE FORGET in the centre. A fifth coin was also released in 2015. It is sunset orange and it features a sun in the centre with birds and the Flanders Field poem in the background.

When the coin was introduced there were complaints that the coin was too small for its value and was easily lost, or counterfeited by placing two 5 cent pieces together and colouring them gold. However, with an uninterrupted milling on the 5 cent and the 2 dollars having 5 grooves in 4 lots separated by 7mm length of the side, identification is easy. It has the same size and milling as the 10 Swedish kronor.

Its smaller size in comparison to the $1 coin can lead to confusion for visitors from outside Australia.

Minting figures

The coin has only been struck at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra, the nation's capital. The only year that had no production was 1991 (due to the large amount issued for its introduction in 1988.[1]).

The minting figures for the commemorative two dollar coins follow:

See also

References

  • Ian W. Pitt, ed. (2000). Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Values (19th ed.). Chippendale, NSW: Renniks Publications. ISBN 978-0-9585574-4-3. 
  1. 1 2 3 http://www.ramint.gov.au/designs/ram-designs/2dollars.cfm
  2. ↑ http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img11/10-2d03&desc=Australia km406 2 Dollars (2001--)&query=Australia
  3. ↑ Pitt 2000 p. 88
  4. 1 2 3 Royal Australian Mint - Designs & Products - Two Dollars
  5. ↑ Royal Australian Mint - Frequently Asked Questions - About Australian Coins
  6. ↑ "Governor-General launches Australia's first purple striped coin".

External links

Preceded by
Two Dollar Note (Australian)		 Two Dollars (Australian)
1988–present 		Succeeded by
Present
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