<P> In accordance with all other Australian coins, the obverse features the portrait of the reigning monarch, who during the lifetime of the coin has only been Queen Elizabeth II . From 1988 to 1998 the portrait of her was by Raphael Maklouf before being replaced in the following year by one sculpted by Ian Rank - Broadley . </P> <P> Designed by Horst Hahne, the reverse depicts an Aboriginal Elder, inspired by an Ainslie Roberts drawing of Gwoya Jungarai, known as One Pound Jimmy . However, the design is not intended to depict any person in particular . The design also incorporates the Southern Cross and native grasstrees . The initials of its designer, Horst Hahne, were removed from the design from 1990 onwards . </P> <P> All two - dollar coins have been struck at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra . 160.9 million coins were minted in the first year of issue . It has been issued in all years since except 1991, with an average mintage of 22 million coins per annum from 1989 to 2008 . </P> <P> In 2012, the Australian mint released the first ever different designed 2 dollar coin . It features a poppy flower, with the words Lest we Forget and Remembrance Day in the background of the coin . There had been no commemorative designs for this issue, until the 2012 Remembrance coin was minted . Along with the 2012 Remembrance coin was a coin with the same text and image but the centre poppy was red with a black centre . It was therefore the first coloured circulating coin in Australia . </P>

How many australian 2 dollar coins are there