This 2020 Lest We Forget 75th Anniversary of the Second World War ‘C’ Mintmarked $2 coin, is the first coloured $2 coin with a 'C' Mintmark supporting the Jody Clark (JC) effigy. It dedicates memory to the almost 40’000 Australian lives lost and all those who served, while also commemorating the 75th anniversary end of World War II (1939 to 1945). In the picture above we can see Mint designer Tony Dean has his initials ‘TD’ represented the reverse of the coin, which appears for the second time on an Australian coloured $2 coin. The colours chosen on the reverse design are representative of the three Australian military forces; the Australian Army (green), the Royal Australian Navy (blue) and the Royal Australian Air Force (white), which operated during the Second World War.

The Royal Australian Mint first submitted an ‘Upcoming Releases’ Facebook post about the coin on the 14^th of February 2020. This post detailed that the 'C' Mintmark $2 Coloured Uncirculated Coin would be released on Monday the 2^nd of March 2020 for the retail price of $15. This release date coincided with the Australian Government reporting the first local case of community transmission of COVID‑19.

Although the Royal Australian Mint did not officially publish a media release specifically for this coin, the Hon Darren Chester MP did put out a statement as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel through the Government’s Treasury website. In this statement he wrote "The coins released by the Royal Australian Mint are an appropriate reminder of the service of the almost one million Australians who served in the Second World War, and the sacrifice of the almost 40,000 who died.”

The Minister’s statement also explained that while Anzac Day 2020 will be different due to the COVID-19 health crisis, there are many ways people can thank those who have served and continue to serve Australia in our defence forces. Mr Chester is quoted as saying “Anzac Day has not been cancelled, but it will look different than it normally does this year and while public gatherings on Anzac Day this year have been cancelled, later this year on 15 August we will commemorate 75 years since Victory in the Pacific and the end of the Second World War.”

Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar who featured in the Treasury media release said the new coins pay tribute to all Australians whose lives were touched by the war. He noted “The coins design reflects the spirit of peace and optimism felt by many at the end of the War and are another, albeit small, reminder of the sacrifice of our ANZACs.”

Mint Issue 127 for April displays both the 1oz Silver Proof Coin as well as the 2 ‘C’ Mintmark Coloured Uncirculated Coin with the respective retail prices of $102.50 and $15.00. Included is the description “On 2 September 1945, the Second World War ended. Around one million Australian men and women served in the war, with nearly 40,000 losing their lives in the conflict. In 2020 the Royal Australian Mint marks the 75th anniversary with the release of a 2020 $2 ‘C’ Mintmark Coloured Uncirculated Coin and 2020 $5 1oz Silver Proof Coin commemorating the hopes of peace, and in remembrance of all who served. These coins are a tribute to all Australians who were affected by the Second World War and will be popular amongst collectors and history buffs.”

The 2019 – 2020 RAM Annual Report shows that 40’000 of the 2020 'C' Mintmarked $2 75th anniversary of the End of the Second World War coins were produced. The same report also shows that 100’000 of the coloured circulating type coins were produced along with 5’000 rolls. By adding the official figures from the 2020 – 2021 report we can determine a circulating mintage figure of 700’000.

Update

Remediation of figures published in the 2021 - 2022 RAM Annual Report establishes that the mintage figures of the circulating 2020 75th anniversary of the End of the Second World War $2 coin; published in the 2019 - 2020 report, were actually incorrect. The remediated mintage figure was stated as being 2'000'000 circulating coins, brining the final circulating mintage to 2'600'000.

Release: 2020
Mintage: 40'000

RESOURCES

Facebook Release Announcement 14/02/2020 - https://m.facebook.com/RoyalAustralianMint/photos/-upcoming-releases-march-2020-get-out-your-calendar-pop-up-a-post-it-note-or-ask/3710357462337715/

Parliament of Australia 23/06/2021: COVID-19: a chronology of Australian Government announcements (up until 30 June 2020) https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp2021/Chronologies/COVID-19AustralianGovernmentAnnouncements

The Treasury Media Release 23/04/2020: The Royal Australian Mint commemorates the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/michael-sukkar-2019/media-releases/royal-australian-mint-commemorates-75th-anniversary

Mint Issue 127
April 2020: https://www.ramint.gov.au/sites/default/files/mint_issue_april_127online_0.pdf

Annual Report
2019 – 2020: https://www.ramint.gov.au/sites/default/files/ramint_annual_report_2019-20.pdf

2020 – 2021: https://www.ramint.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021/Corp_site/Policy/2020-21_ram_annual-report_appendices.pdf

2021 - 2022: https://www.ramint.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022/Corporate_site/2021-22_ram_annual-report_digital.pdf

Last Updated: 11/12/2022