On the 21^st of April, during the lead up to ANZAC day 2017 the Royal Australian Mint announced on their Facebook Page; the new Lest We Forget $2 coin was entering circulation and on sale from the Mint eShop. The circulating type was released in $10 sachets of 5 coins for the price of $15 (maximum of 3 bags per person per transaction at the RAM foyer mint swap on the 22/04/2017), or $15 for this pictured 2017 Lest We Forget ANZAC ‘C’ Mintmarked $2 coin as advertised in the Mint Issue 114.

Tony Dean’s design, signified by his initials ‘TD’ on the reverse of the coin, was adapted from Napier Waller’s Hall of Memory mosaic dome. The dome is located in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.  The Australian War Memorial website states “The theme of Waller's dome ornamentation is eternal life, the ascent of the spirits of the fallen. Within its splendid abstraction we may contemplate the sacrifice of the dead. From the base of the dome stylised hands deliver the souls of the dead from the earth, rendered in green and brown, through clouds, then blue sky, to heaven. The spirits are symbolised by winged coffins in shapes reminiscent of Egyptian mummies. On the uppermost member of the cornice a classical wreath emphasises that the Hall of Memory is a memorial to the fallen. A flight of black swans symbolises the air, and beneath them are bands of stylised water lilies and bull rushes symbolising water. An unbroken gold chain represents continuity. The ethereal qualities of Waller's subject are heightened by the artificial light that reflects from the intense contrasting blue, orange and gold tesserae.”

The 2016 – 2017 RAM Annual Report indicates that 30’998 of the 2017 Uncirculated 'C' Mintmarked Lest We Forget ANZAC $2 coins were produced. The same report also shows that 2’900’000 of the coloured circulating type coins were produced. Confusingly the 2017 - 2018 RAM Annual Report has "Lest we Forget Coloured" printed twice under the year 2018. As the RAM's $2 webpage displays the correct corresponding figures for the 2018 'Lest We Forget Eternal Flame', we can assume the figures of 1'075'000 actually refer to the 2017 Lest We Forget ANZAC ciculating $2 coin. This brings the circulating total for this coin to 3'975'000.

Release: 2017
Mintage: 30’998

RESOURCES:

Facebook Release Announcement 21/04/2017 - https://www.facebook.com/RoyalAustralianMint/posts/lest-we-forgetthe-latest-coloured-2-coin-commemorating-the-anzacs-has-been-launc/1625557384151077/

Facebook Swap Meet Details 21/04/2017 - https://www.facebook.com/RoyalAustralianMint/posts/-new-2-coin-added-to-the-swap-see-details-below-the-mint-will-be-holding-a-coin-/1625712657468883/

Australian War Memorial 03/06/2021: Hall of Memory mosaic dome awm.gov.au/collection/ART90409.005?image=2

Royal Australian Mint 24/07/2022: Two Dollars https://www.ramint.gov.au/two-dollars

Mint Issue
114 June 2017: https://www.ramint.gov.au/sites/default/files/2017_mintissue_114_june_lr_v3.pdf

Annual Reports
2016 – 2017: https://www.ramint.gov.au/sites/default/files/2016-17_annual_report.pdf

2017 – 2018: https://www.ramint.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018/policy/2017-18_annual_report_web_accssible_fa.pdf

Last Updated: 24/07/2022