This 2022 Australian Honey Bee 'C' Mintmarked $2 coin was released by the Royal Australian Mint on the 7th of April 2022. Like the Perth Mint the RAM also released a coin designed to celebrate the 200^th anniversary since the European honey bee was successfully introduced to Australia. The bees reportedly came onboard a 200 man convict ship; the Isabella, which arrived in Sydney Cove on the 10^th of March 1822. Unlike other species brought to Australia, the honey bee has been widely recognised for its contribution to the economy. The Australian honey and pollination industry has grown to be worth $14.2 billion dollars annually and provides around 1’800 people with direct employment.

Did you know? In the late 1800’s honey bees were brought to Kangaroo Island in South Australia from the Italian province of Liguria. Since then, no other breeds of bee have been introduced to Kangaroo Island. Because of this genetic isolation, all the honeybees on the island today are direct descendants of the first bees introduced from Liguria. Ligurian bees are renowned for their gentle nature and productivity, less like the European bees today because of mixed breeding with less tranquil species of African bees. These desirable characteristics, and the purity of the strain, make them a valuable genetic pool for breeding purposes. As such Ligurian queen bees are regularly exported overseas, often back to Europe, selling relatively for very high prices. In recognition of this fact a bee sanctuary status was introduced prohibiting the importation of all bee products to Kangaroo Island which seeks to ensure that the bees there remain disease free and genetically pure.

The reverse of the presentation card states “In 1822, honey bees successfully arrived at Sydney Cove Australia on the ship Isabella. Since that time, Australians have enjoyed the delicious taste of honey produced from our many Eucalypt trees. Honey bees also play an invaluable role in producing the food the world eats, with the agriculture and horticulture industries relying heavily on honey bees for pollination of their many crops. So next time you bite on an apple or enjoy avocado on toast, give some thought to the humble honey bee.”

This coin did not appear in a Mint Issue from the RAM but did retail at $15 each, as outlined by the Upcoming Releases post on the RAM noticeboard.

To date the 2021 – 2022 RAM Annual Report shows that 60’000 of the 2022 Australian Honey Bee $2 'C' Mintmark $2 coin were produced. The same report also details the Australian Honey Bee circulating mintage as being 2'000'000, plus 15’000 official RAM rolls as being produced.

Release: 2022
Mintage: 60’000

RESOURCES

RAM Upcoming Releases 17/03/2022 - https://www.ramint.gov.au/news-media/news/upcoming-releases-thursday-7-april-2022

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

Last Updated: 04/02/2023