United Kingdom (UK) | |
Value | £0.02 |
---|---|
Mass | 7.12 g |
Diameter | 25.9 mm |
Thickness | |
Edge | Plain |
Composition |
|
Years of minting | 1971–present |
Obverse | |
![]() | |
Design | Queen Elizabeth II |
Designer | Jody Clark |
Design date | 2015 |
Reverse | |
![]() | |
Design | Segment of the Royal Shield |
Designer | Matthew Dent |
Design date | 2008 |
The British decimal two pence coin (often shortened to 2p in writing and speech) is a denomination of sterling coinage equalling 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.[1] 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.[2]
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]