2 Cents - Elizabeth II (2nd Portrait)

The Australian 2-cent coin was introduced in 1966 as part of the nation's transition to a decimal currency system, replacing the former pre-decimal denominations of pounds, shillings, and pence. The coin's primary design feature is the image of the frilled-necked lizard, a reptile iconic to the Australian landscape, which was rendered by the acclaimed artist and sculptor Stuart Devlin. Devlin, who was commissioned to design the entire new series of decimal coins, intended to celebrate Australia’s unique natural heritage through a clean, modern aesthetic that would be easily recognizable to a public adjusting to a new system of money.

The obverse of the 1966 issue features the second portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, created by the British sculptor Arnold Machin. This effigy was selected to represent the monarch as she appeared in the mid-1960s, providing a dignified and traditional profile common to Commonwealth coinage of the era. While the 2-cent coin was produced in massive quantities to facilitate the circulation needs of a growing nation, it was eventually withdrawn from general use in 1992 as inflation rendered the low-value bronze coins inefficient for daily transactions.