Egypt to Launch Two-Pound Coin to Ease Change Shortages and Improve Cash Circulation

In a step intended to easing persistent shortages of small denominations and facilitating everyday translations, Egypt’s Public Treasury and Mint Authority has announced plans to introduce a new two-pound coin into circulating. 

In a statement issued this week, the authority said it has also completed a comprehensive upgrade of existing coins, particularly the one-pound denomination, with enhanced specifications to improve durability and overall quality.

The authority’s head, Gamal Hussein, said the updated coins will be produced using more cost-efficient materials aligned with their face value. The measure is intended to lower production costs while curbing the illegal melting and resale of coins.

Smaller denominations, including the 25-piastre and 50-piastre coins, will remain in circulation as part of a broader strategy to optimize the structure and efficiency of Egypt’s coin system.

The initiative is expected to improve the availability of small change, particularly in densely populated areas where high transaction volumes have intensified demand for coins.

The move follows ongoing challenges linked to shortages of small denominations. In December 2025, National Authority for Tunnels Chairman (NAT) Tarek Gewaily said the authority was facing a daily shortfall of around EGP 300,000 in coins, a factor that contributed to fare increases in the Cairo metro system.

The shortage has largely been attributed to constraints in securing imported raw materials required for minting, resulting in production delays and prompting a wider shift toward electronic payment methods across parts of the transport network.

Egypt last introduced major currency updates in 2023, when the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) issued a polymer 20-pound banknote, following the rollout of the 10-pound note in 2022.