| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Denomination | Two cents |
| Alloy | Brass |
| Diameter | 18.4/17.0 mm |
| Thickness | mm |
| Weight | 2.59 gms |
| Shape | eight Scallops |
| Edge | Plain |
| DieAxis | O° |
Two Cents
The definitive decimal currency Two cent Nickel Brass coin, is the only Ceylon coin with the image of Queen Elizabeth II.
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| KM #124 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Obverse : Effigy of Elizabeth II to right in relief in the center of the legend + QUEEN . ELIZABETH . SECOND along periphery
Reverse : The word CENTS superimposed over large numeral 2 and year below. Left Sinhala sather dhecker; Right Tamil 2 Satam, and above CEYLON along periphery.
10,576,000 5,260,000 3,720,000
| Pridmore | Year | Alloy | Issue | Coined | Mint | Proof |
| 1955 | Nickel-Brass | 5,166,000 | 1955 | India Mint | ||
| 1955 | Nickel-Brass | ? 3,420,000 | 1956 | India Mint | ||
| 1955 | Nickel-Brass | 7,250,000 | 1957 | India Mint | ||
| 1955 | Nickel-Brass | 3,720,000 | 1959 | India Mint | ||
| 1957 | Nickel-Brass | 7,500,000 | 1957 | Royal Mint | Yes | |
| 1957 | Nickel-Brass | 5,000,000 | 1959 | Royal Mint | ||
| 1957 | Nickel-Brass | 15,200,000 | 1960 | Royal Mint | ||
| 1957 | Nickel-Brass | 9,000,000 | 1961 | Royal Mint | ||
| 1957 | Nickel-Brass | 1,500,000 | 1962 | Royal Mint |
The Detailed breakdown above from Royal Mint Reports and Sallay's notes which also indicates that all of the 1955 issues were minted in India even as late as 1959 and all of the 1957 issues were minted at the Royal Mint upto 1962.
The Royal Mint Report for 1958 states that New master tools were prepared for a 2 cent coinage for Ceylon. Although coins of this design were in circulation they had not previously been struck in the Royal Mint. For the obverse a reduction-punch was made from an existing intermediate model and for the reverse a matrix was engraved by hand.
The total Mint figures above for 1955 and 1957 of 19,556,000 and 38,200,000 from Sallay above is 3.715M more and 10.760 less than the total of years 1955 and 1957 of 15,841,000 and 48,960,000 given by Robert Harris(1970) with reference to Annual Report of Royal Mint. Remick (1968) lists a total Mint figure of 37.131M and 38.2M for 1955 and 1957. I need to look at Royal Mint Report for 1956 and check mint names in footnotes.
The Dick Ford collection (in Taisei-Baldwin-Gillio Auctions #19 Ceylon 1995 February 23. Singapore lot#207) includes 1957 Proof 2 Cents (illustrated).
The coin was scaned at 300dpi and the images are displayed at 300dpi.