Two pence (British decimal coin)
{{short description|British decimal coin}}
{{Infobox coin
| Country = United Kingdom (UK)
| Denomination = Two pence
| Value = £0.02
| Unit =
| Mass = 7.12
| Diameter = 25.9
| Thickness_special = {{plainlist|
}}
| Edge = Plain
| Composition = {{plainlist|
- Bronze (1971–1992, 1998)
- {{nowrap|Copper-plated steel (1992–present)}}
}}
| Years of Minting = 1971–present
| Catalog Number =
| Obverse = 150px
| Obverse Design = Queen Elizabeth II
| Obverse Designer = Jody Clark
| Obverse Design Date = 2015
| Reverse = 150px
| Reverse Design = Segment of the Royal Shield
| Reverse Designer = Matthew Dent
| Reverse Design Date = 2008
}}
The British decimal two pence coin (often shortened to 2p in writing and speech) is a denomination of sterling coinage equalling {{frac|2|100}} of a pound. Since the coin's introduction on 15 February 1971, the year British currency was decimalised, its obverse has featured four profiles of Queen Elizabeth II.{{cite web|url=http://www.bignell.uk.com/post_dec.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010307074324/http://www.bignell.uk.com/post_dec.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 7, 2001|first=C P|title=Post decimalisation|last=Bignell|accessdate=2006-05-23}} In 2008 the design on its reverse changed from the original depiction of a plume of ostrich feathers with a coronet to a segment of the Royal Shield.
The two pence coin was originally minted from bronze, but changed in 1992 to copper-plated steel.
As of March 2014 there were an estimated 6.55 billion 2p coins in circulation, corresponding to a value of £131 million.{{cite web|title=Mintage Figures|url=http://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/circulation-coin-mintage-figures|publisher=Royal Mint|accessdate=28 December 2015}}
Two pence coins are legal tender for amounts only up to the sum of 20p when offered in repayment of a debt; however, the coin's legal tender status is not normally relevant for everyday transactions.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}
Composition
From its first minting in 1971 until 1992, two pence coins were made from bronze. In 1992, this was changed to copper-plated steel because of the increasing price of copper used to make bronze.{{Cite web|title=2p Coin Designs and Specifications {{!}} The Royal Mint|url=https://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/coin-design-and-specifications/two-pence-coin/|access-date=2022-01-08|website=www.royalmint.com|language=en-GB}} Both the bronze and steel versions were made in 1992 as it was the transition year, however in 1998 a small quantity of bronze two pences were made alongside the standard copper-plated steel. The number of bronze two pences from this year was 98,676,000 versus the 115,154,000 copper-plate steel. {{cite web |title=Two Pence Mintage Figures |url=https://www.royalmint.com/corporate/circulating-coin/uk-currency/mintages/2-pence/ |publisher=Royal Mint |access-date=31 August 2023}}
By May 2006 the pre-1992 (97% copper) coins contained 3p worth of copper each.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1518128/Your-small-fortune-2p-coins-that-could-be-worth-3p-each.html "Your small fortune: 2p coins that could be worth 3p each"], Telegraph, 12 May 2006 In May 2006, about 2.55 billion such coins remained in circulation, and the Royal Mint warned that tampering with coinage is illegal in the UK.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4766897.stm "Mint warns against melting coins"], BBC News, 12 May 2006 During 2008, the value of copper fell dramatically from these peaks.[http://www.lme.co.uk/copper_graphs.asp London Metal Exchange copper price graphs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081107041459/http://www.lme.co.uk/copper_graphs.asp|date=2008-11-07}}
Design
= Reverse =
The original reverse of the coin, designed by Christopher Ironside, and used from 1971 to 2008, is the Badge of the Prince of Wales: a plume of ostrich feathers within a coronet, above the German motto {{small|ICH DIEN}} ("I serve"). The numeral "2" is written below the badge, and either {{small|NEW PENCE}} (1971–1981) or {{small|TWO PENCE}} (from 1982) is written above. A small number of 1983 mintage coins exist with the "New Pence" wording. It was originally planned that an alternative version of the 2p would be minted with a design representing Northern Ireland;[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1968/dec/20/50-new-penny-piece#S5CV0775P0_19681220_CWA_6 "50 New Penny Piece"], Hansard, 20 December 1968 these plans never came to fruition. The same design was also re-cut in 1993 producing two minor varieties for that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk/pics/dec2.html|first=Tony|last=Clayton|title=Decimal Coins of the UK – Two Pence|accessdate=2015-01-18}}
In August 2005 the Royal Mint launched a competition to find new reverse designs for all circulating coins apart from the £2 coin.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4160122.stm "Royal Mint seeks new coin designs"], BBC News, 17 August 2005 The winner, announced in April 2008, was Matthew Dent, whose designs were gradually introduced into the circulating British coinage from mid-2008.[http://www.dofonline.co.uk/economy/royal-mint-unveils-new-uk-coins.html "Royal Mint unveils new UK coins"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907185741/http://www.dofonline.co.uk/economy/royal-mint-unveils-new-uk-coins.html |date=2008-09-07 }}, 2 April 2008 The designs for the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p coins depict sections of the Royal Shield that form the whole shield when placed together. The shield in its entirety was featured on the now-obsolete round £1 coin. The re-designed 2p coin depicts the second quarter of the shield, showing the Lion Rampant from the Royal Banner of Scotland, with the words {{small|TWO PENCE}} above.
The beading was removed from both sides of the coin in the 2008 re-design.
In October 2023 the King Charles III two-pence coin was presented; the reverse features a red squirrel.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67091137|work= BBC News|title=King Charles III new coins designed to help children to count|access-date = 11 January 2025|date = 13 October 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.royalmint.com/annual-sets/2023/definitives/|title= 2023 Definitives: His Majesty King Charles III's First Definitive Coins| website=Royal Mint|access-date = 11 January 2025}}
= Obverse =
Five different obverses were used during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II: four different portraits and the removal of the beaded border in 2008. In all cases, the inscription is {{small|ELIZABETH II D.G.REG.F.D. 2013}}, where 2013 is replaced by the year of minting. In the original design both sides of the coin are encircled by dots, a common feature on coins, known as beading.
Four different portraits of Elizabeth II were used on the coin:
- As with all new decimal currency, until 1984 the portrait of Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin appeared on the obverse,{{cite web|title=1p Coin|url=http://www.royalmint.com/RoyalMint/web/site/Corporate/Corp_british_coinage/CoinDesign/1pCoin.asp|publisher=British Royal Mint|accessdate=2006-05-23|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427104248/http://www.royalmint.com/RoyalMint/web/site/Corporate/Corp_british_coinage/CoinDesign/1pCoin.asp |archivedate=2006-04-27}} in which the Queen wears the 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland' Tiara.
- Between 1985 and 1997 the portrait by Raphael Maklouf was used, in which the Queen wears the George IV State Diadem. In 1992 the metal used in minting this coin was switched from bronze to copper-plated steel, with a single year of using both alloys in 1998.
- From 1998 to 2015 the portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley was used, again featuring the tiara, with a signature-mark {{small|IRB}} below the portrait.
- From 2015 to 2022, coins bore the portrait by Jody Clark.
Mintages
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;"
|+Number of two pence coins minted for circulation by year{{Cite web |title=2p Two Pence Mintage Figures |url=https://www.royalmint.com/corporate/circulating-coin/uk-currency/mintages/2-pence/ |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=www.royalmint.com}} ! Year ! Number minted ! Composition ! Portrait ! Reverse | ||||
| 1971 | 1,454,856,250 | rowspan="22" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Bronze | style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" rowspan="14" | Machin | rowspan="40" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Ironside |
| 1972 | data-sort-value="0" | In sets only | |||
| 1973 | data-sort-value="0" | In sets only | |||
| 1974 | data-sort-value="0" | In sets only | |||
| 1975 | 145,545,000 | |||
| 1976 | 181,379,000 | |||
| 1977 | 109,281,000 | |||
| 1978 | 189,658,000 | |||
| 1979 | 260,200,000 | |||
| 1980 | 408,527,000 | |||
| 1981 | 353,191,000 | |||
| 1982 | data-sort-value="0" | In sets only | |||
| 1983 | data-sort-value="0" | In sets only | |||
| 1984 | data-sort-value="0" | In sets only | |||
| 1985 | 107,113,000 | rowspan="14" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Maklouf | ||
| 1986 | 168,967,500 | |||
| 1987 | 218,100,750 | |||
| 1988 | 419,889,000 | |||
| 1989 | 359,226,000 | |||
| 1990 | 204,499,700 | |||
| 1991 | 86,625,250 | |||
| rowspan="2" | 1992 | rowspan="2" | 102,247,000 | |||
| rowspan="6" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;"|Copper-plated steel | ||||
| 1993 | 235,674,000 | |||
| 1994 | 531,628,000 | |||
| 1995 | 124,482,000 | |||
| 1996 | 296,278,000 | |||
| 1997 | 496,116,000 | |||
| rowspan="2" | 1998 | 98,676,000
| style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Bronze | rowspan="20" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Rank-Broadley | ||
| 115,154,000
| rowspan="28" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" |Copper-plated steel | ||||
| 1999 | 353,816,000 | |||
| 2000 | 563,659,000 | |||
| 2001 | 551,880,000 | |||
| 2002 | 168,556,000 | |||
| 2003 | 260,225,000 | |||
| 2004 | 356,396,000 | |||
| 2005 | 280,396,000 | |||
| 2006 | 170,637,000 | |||
| 2007 | 254,500,000 | |||
| rowspan="2" | 2008 | 10,600,000 | |||
| 241,679,000
| rowspan="16" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Dent | ||||
| 2009 | 150,500,500 | |||
| 2010 | 99,600,000 | |||
| 2011 | 144,300,000 | |||
| 2012 | 67,800,000 | |||
| 2013 | 40,600,000 | |||
| 2014 | 247,600,020 | |||
| 2015 | 85,900,000 | |||
| 2015 | 139,200,000 | rowspan="8" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Clark | ||
| 2016 | 185,600,000 | |||
| 2017 | 16,600,000 | |||
| 2018 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | 0 | |||
| 2020 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | 117,700,000 | |||
| 2022 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | 0 | rowspan="1" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Jennings | rowspan="1" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | |
Mint sets have been produced since 1982; where mintages on or after that date indicate '0', there are examples contained within those sets.
References
{{Portal|Money|Numismatics|United Kingdom}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/coin-design-and-specifications/two-pence-coin Royal Mint – 2p Coin Designs and Specifications]
- [https://onlinecoin.club/Coins/CoinType/United_Kingdom/Two_Pence/ Two Pence, Coin Type from United Kingdom]
{{British_coinage}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Two Pence (British Decimal Coin)}}
Category:1971 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:Coins of the United Kingdom