The Royal Australian Mint has issued Australian commemorative coins since 1927 with a range of designs, often depicting various anniversaries, organisations, and significant events in Australian history. Commemorative coins have been issued for various denominations from both the Australian pound and decimal currencies.
Australia's first commemorative $2 coin was released in 2012 to commemorate Remembrance Day. It features a poppy in the centre on a background of microtext, reading: "REMEMBRANCE DAY" and "LEST WE FORGET". Australia is the second country to circulate coloured commemorative coins, after Canada.
Not all years have issues for circulation with 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 2012 only in mint packs. Issue 1984, 1985, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 are the only issue with the Kangaroo portrait, however, the 2007 $1 with the kangaroo was also minted, but only for mint sets.