Eighty years after the guns fell silent and the Second World War drew to its close, the Royal Australian Mint is releasing a new $2 coin to honour the service and sacrifice of Australians during the conflict.
Nearly one million Australians served in the Second World War, and close to 40,000 never returned home. This coin serves as a lasting tribute to their courage and resilience, and the enduring legacy they left for future generations.
The design features a symbolic wreath of eight vivid red poppies – each representing a decade that has passed since the end of the war. Interwoven with the poppies is a flowing purple ribbon, a colour long associated with mourning, dignity and reflection. Together, these elements offer a powerful visual reminder of the sacrifices made and the passage of time since that defining moment in history.
Royal Australian Mint acting Chief Executive Officer, Emily Martin reflects on the release:
“The Mint tells the history of Australia through coin design, and this coin is a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice of those who served. The red poppy, universally recognised as a sign of remembrance, connects us emotionally to those who served. By encircling the poppies with a purple ribbon, we acknowledge not only the sorrow and loss, but also the dignity and reverence that continues to shape how Australians remember this chapter in our history,” she said.
“For eighty years, the legacy of nearly one million Australians who served – and the almost 40,000 who gave their lives – has been part of our national story. Through this coin, the Mint continues its role in telling that story, inviting reflection on the freedoms and values they fought to protect, and ensuring that their sacrifice is never forgotten.”
The commemorative design will be released as a circulating coin, and people can expect to find it in their change from this week.
The 2025 $2 ‘C’ Mintmark 80 Years On: Remembering the Second World War coloured fine silver proof is $90, and the coloured uncirculated coin in card is $22.50. Both are available from: EQL Ballot – Monday 3 to Wednesday 5 November.
Registration for the EQL ballot opens at 8.30am on Monday, 3 November and closes at 8.30am on Wednesday, 5 November.
The draw will take place immediately after the ballot and successful entrants will be notified by email. To register for the ballot, visit the Mint at www.ramint.gov.au.
And from Thursday, 6 November – 8.30am
- Mint Shop (Royal Australian Mint, Deakin)
- Mint Contact Centre (1300 652 020)
- Participating Authorised Distributors.
