Two pence (British decimal coin)
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. 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.
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 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.
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.