Cairo: The Public Treasury and Mint Authority in Egypt has announced plans to introduce a two-pound coin into circulation to facilitate transactions and enhance market supply. The statement, released on April 6, 2026, outlines efforts to streamline the currency system within the country.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the authority is also set to update existing coins, particularly the one-pound coin, to improve its specifications for better quality. This initiative involves the use of more cost-effective raw materials that align with the coin's value, aiming to reduce production costs and curb illegal melting and trading practices, as cited by Gamal Hussein, head of the authority.

The new measure will not affect the circulation of other coins such as the quarter-pound (25 piastres) and half-pound (50 piastres), which will continue to be in use. These actions are part of a broader strategy to balance the economic and technical aspects of coin production while ensuring an ample supply of coins, especially in densely populated regions with high transaction volumes. The goal is to improve the availability of change and the efficiency of coin denominations.

This development follows a statement made in December 2025 by Tarek Gewaily, Chairman of the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT), highlighting a daily shortage of about EGP 300,000 in small denominations. This shortage had prompted an increase in metro ticket prices from EGP 8 to EGP 10. The limited supply of imported raw materials necessary for coin minting contributed to delays, pushing the authority to expand electronic payment options for certain metro lines.

In response to rising global petroleum prices, local fuel price hikes linked to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, and successive increases in electricity prices, train and metro ticket prices were raised again in March. This adjustment was part of efforts by the NAT and Egyptian National Railways to cover operating costs.

The last significant update to Egypt's currency occurred in 2023 when the Central Bank of Egypt issued a polymer EGP 20 banknote, following the release of the EGP 10 note in July 2022.