The “2p coin” refers to the two pence coin, a denomination of currency in the United Kingdom.
- Value: A 2p coin is worth £0.02, or 2/100 of a pound sterling.
- Decimalization: The 2p coin was introduced on February 15, 1971, as part of the decimalization of British currency.
- Design:
– Obverse: The obverse features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Five different portraits were used during her reign [according to Wikipedia].
– Reverse: The original reverse design showed the Badge of the Prince of Wales, a plume of ostrich feathers emerging from a coronet with the motto “ICH DIEN” (German for “I serve”). In 2008, the design changed to a segment of the Royal Shield. The King Charles III two-pence coin was presented in October 2023, with the reverse featuring a red squirrel.
– Inscription: From 1971 to 1981, the inscription on the reverse was “NEW PENCE” to denote the new decimal currency. This changed to “TWO PENCE” from 1982 onwards. A small number of 1983 coins were mistakenly struck with “NEW PENCE” and are now valuable to collectors.
- Composition:
– Initially, from 1971 to 1992, the 2p coin was made of bronze (97% copper, 2.5% zinc, 0.5% tin).
– In 1992, the composition was changed to copper-plated steel due to rising copper prices, making the newer coins magnetic, according to [The Royal Mint].
- Legal Tender: Two pence coins are legal tender for amounts up to 20p when offered in repayment of a debt.
- Additional information
– The 2p coin is also sometimes referred to as “two pee”.
– As of March 2014, there were an estimated 6.55 billion 2p coins in circulation.
– The purchase of rare or error 2p coins can be expensive, ranging from tens to thousands of US dollars depending on the condition and rarity, according to listings found on eBay and MintErrors.org.
What is a 2p coin made of?
Traditionally bronze coins were made from an alloy of copper, tin and zinc. Since September 1992, however, 1p and 2p coins have been made from copper-plated steel.
Do 2p coins still exist?
I can help with that. A coin has not been taken out of circulation in the UK since the half-penny was removed in 1984. New 2p coins have not been minted since 2021, according to the most recent figures from the Royal Mint, while none were made between 2018 and 2020.
Is a 2p coin worth anything?
TWO extremely rare 2p coins that might be worth up to £1,000 could be sitting in your wallet right now. The Royal Mint manufactures an average of two billion coins a year – and now and then there are production errors. These errors actually make the coins highly valuable for collectors.
Is 2 pence 2 pennies?
I can help with that. The value of a two-pence coin is not related to its size, shape, colour or quantity. A two-pence coin has a value of two pence or 2 p. The value of a two-pence coin is equal to the value of two one-pence coins. We can represent a two-pence coin as a two-spot token.