| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Denomination | Two cents |
| Alloy | Nickel-Brass |
| Diameter | 18.4/17.0 mm |
| Thickness | mm |
| Weight | 2.59 gms |
| Shape | eight Scallops |
| Edge | Plain |
| DieAxis | O° |
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| KM #124 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Obverse : Young Head of Elizabeth II to right in low relief
in the center of the legend + QUEEN • ELIZABETH • SECOND
within dash circle along periphery with raised rim.
Reverse : CEYLON in arc above the word CENTS superimposed over
large numeral 2 and •year• below.
ශත දෙක in Sinhala on bottom left separated by a •.
௨ சதம் in Thamil
on bottom right. All within dash circle along periphery with raised rim.
| Pridmore | Year | Alloy | Issue | Coined | Mint | Proof |
| 1955 | Nickel-Brass | 5,166,000 | 1955 | India Mint | ||
| 1955 | Nickel-Brass | ? 3,420,000 | 1956 | India Mint | ||
| 1955 | Nickel-Brass | 7,250,000 | 1957 | India Mint | ||
| 1955 | Nickel-Brass | 3,720,000 | 1959 | India Mint | ||
| 1957 | Nickel-Brass | 7,500,000 | 1957 | Royal Mint | Yes | |
| 1957 | Nickel-Brass | 5,000,000 | 1959 | Royal Mint | ||
| 1957 | Nickel-Brass | 15,200,000 | 1960 | Royal Mint | ||
| 1957 | Nickel-Brass | 9,000,000 | 1961 | Royal Mint | ||
| 1957 | Nickel-Brass | 1,500,000 | 1962 | Royal Mint |
The Detailed breakdown above from Royal Mint Reports and Sallay's notes which also indicates that all of the 1955 issues were minted in India even as late as 1959 and all of the 1957 issues were minted at the Royal Mint upto 1962.
The Royal Mint Report for 1958 states that New master tools were prepared for a 2 cent coinage for Ceylon. Although coins of this design were in circulation they had not previously been struck in the Royal Mint. For the obverse a reduction-punch was made from an existing intermediate model and for the reverse a matrix was engraved by hand.
The total Mint figures above for 1955 and 1957 of 19,556,000 and 38,200,000 from Sallay above is 3.715M more and 10.760 less than the total of years 1955 and 1957 of 15,841,000 and 48,960,000 given by Robert Harris(1970) with reference to Annual Report of Royal Mint. Remick (1968) lists a total Mint figure of 37.131M and 38.2M for 1955 and 1957. I need to look at Royal Mint Report for 1956 and check mint names in footnotes.
The Dick Ford collection (in Taisei-Baldwin-Gillio Auctions #19 Ceylon 1995 February 23. Singapore lot#207) includes 1957 Proof 2 Cents (illustrated).
The coin was scaned at 300dpi and the images are displayed at 300dpi.