View source for 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|
* ([[Bronze]]) 1.85 mm
* ([[Steel]]) 2.03 mm
}}
| Edge                = Plain
| Composition         = {{plainlist|
* Bronze (1971–1992, 1998)
* {{nowrap|[[Copper]]-plated steel (1992–present)}}
}}
| Years of Minting    = 1971&ndash;present
| Catalog Number      =
| Obverse             = [[File:British two pence coin 2016 obverse.png|150px]]
| Obverse Design      = [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]]
| Obverse Designer    = [[Jody Clark]]
| Obverse Design Date = 2015
| Reverse             = [[File:British two pence coin 2015 reverse.png|150px]]
| Reverse Design      = Segment of the [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal Shield]]
| Reverse Designer    = [[Matthew Dent (designer)|Matthew Dent]]
| Reverse Design Date = 2008
}}
The [[United Kingdom|British]] decimal '''two pence''' [[coin]] (often shortened to '''2p''' in writing and speech) is a denomination of [[Coins of the United Kingdom|sterling coinage]] equalling {{frac|2|100}} of a [[pound sterling|pound]]. Since the coin's introduction on 15 February 1971, the year British currency was [[Decimal Day|decimalised]], its obverse has featured four profiles of [[Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 coat of arms of the United Kingdom|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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mintage Figures|url=http://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/circulation-coin-mintage-figures|publisher=Royal Mint|accessdate=28 December 2015}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref> 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. <ref>{{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}}</ref>

By May 2006 the pre-1992 (97% copper) coins contained 3p worth of copper each.<ref name="Telegraph">[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</ref> In May 2006, about 2.55 billion such coins remained in circulation,<ref name="Telegraph" /> and the [[Royal Mint]] warned that tampering with coinage is illegal in the UK.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4766897.stm "Mint warns against melting coins"], BBC News, 12 May 2006</ref> During 2008, the value of copper fell dramatically from these peaks.<ref>[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}}</ref>

== Design ==
[[File:British two pence coin 1994 reverse.png|thumb|150px|Reverse: 1982–2008]]

=== Reverse ===
The original [[Obverse and reverse|reverse]] of the coin, designed by [[Christopher Ironside]], and used from 1971 to 2008, is the [[Prince of Wales's feathers|Badge of the Prince of Wales]]: a plume of [[ostrich]] [[feather]]s within a [[coronet]], above the [[German language|German]] [[motto]] {{small|[[Ich Dien|ICH DIEN]]}} ("I serve"). The numeral "2" is written below the badge, and either {{small|NEW PENCE}} (1971&ndash;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;<ref>[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</ref> these plans never came to fruition. The same design was also re-cut in 1993 producing two minor varieties for that year.<ref name="bcoins">{{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}}</ref>

In August 2005 the [[Royal Mint]] launched a [[Coins of the pound sterling#Reverse designs (from 2008)|competition]] to find new reverse designs for all circulating coins apart from the £2 coin.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4160122.stm "Royal Mint seeks new coin designs"], BBC News, 17 August 2005</ref> The winner, announced in April 2008, was [[Matthew Dent (designer)|Matthew Dent]], whose designs were gradually introduced into the circulating British coinage from mid-2008.<ref>[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</ref> The designs for the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p coins depict sections of the [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|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]].<ref name ="Children counting">{{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}}</ref><ref name = "First Definitives">{{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}}</ref>

=== Obverse ===
Five different [[obverse]]s were used during the reign of [[Queen Elizabeth II]]: four different portraits and the removal of the beaded border in 2008.<ref name="bcoins" /> In all cases, the inscription is {{small|ELIZABETH II [[British coinage#D.G.REG.F.D.|D.G.REG.F.D.]] 2013}},<ref name="bcoins" /> 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,<ref name="design">{{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 <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archivedate=2006-04-27}}</ref> in which the Queen wears the [[Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara|'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland' Tiara]].
* Between 1985 and 1997 the portrait by [[Raphael Maklouf]] was used,<ref name="design" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />
* From 1998 to 2015 the portrait by [[Ian Rank-Broadley]] was used,<ref name="design" /> again featuring the [[Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara|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<ref>{{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}}</ref>
! 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 &ndash; 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]]
[[Category:Currencies introduced in 1971]]
[[Category:Decimalisation]]
[[Category:Two-cent coins]]