2 Cents - Elizabeth II 3rd portrait

Fiji's switch from bronze to copper-plated zinc for this denomination mirrored a cost-cutting trend seen across Commonwealth Pacific issuers in the late 1980s, driven by rising base metal prices. The change is documented under KM#50a, distinguishing it from the earlier bronze strikes. Dies from the two compositions are otherwise identical, making composition the sole diagnostic between types without a scale or acid test.