Check your pockets for 2c coin worth $500

This $1 coin could be worth several thousand dollars due to a small mistake.

This modest copper-nickel coin, struck at the Perth Mint, occupies a unique place in Australian numismatic history.

With a mintage of only 16,995,000, this is the second lowest mintage 2 cent coin issued and is considered the key to the 2c series of 1966-1991.

What makes the 1968 2c coin truly exceptional is its scarcity of premium quality.

Although most specimens have naturally circulated and lost their original luster, some have been preserved in pristine condition.

Among the well-preserved examples, a few have been graded by leading independent third-party coin verifiers, Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), at MS66, the equivalent of Gem Uncirculated condition.

These coins represent the pinnacle of quality and desirability for collectors.

What sets this coin apart, aside from its remarkable condition, is its unique history. The Australian two cent coin was introduced in 1966 and circulated until 1992.

The reverse featured a ruffled lizard designed by Stuart Devlin, a noted coin designer. Specifically, Mr. Devlin’s initials, “SD,” were intended to appear on these coins beneath the lizard’s belly.

However, some of these coins are surrounded by an intriguing mystery.

An unknown number of 2c coins from 1968 are missing the famous designer’s initials, ‘SD’.

This unusual occurrence also extends to some 1967 and 1981 issues, making it a puzzling anomaly in Australian coinage history.

The value of these 2 cent coins has steadily increased over the years, driven by collector demand and the uniqueness of the missing ‘SD’ varieties.

Some of the best-known examples have fetched prices of more than several thousand dollars.