Collection: Two Dollar
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| • 1996-1999 | • 2000-2009 | • 2010-2019 | • 2020-Date |
The Rich History of the Canadian Toonie
The Canadian toonie coin most people would recognize proudly features the iconic embossed image of a polar bear balancing on a floe of ice. It has become an intrinsic part of daily life, but it wasn't always that way. Learn more here about the history of the Canadian toonie, several examples of coins you can purchase from us, and an explanation of the toonie's durable components.
What Year Was the Canadian Toonie Introduced?
The Canadian toonie coin most people would recognize proudly features the iconic embossed image of a polar bear balancing on a floe of ice. It has become an intrinsic part of daily life, but it wasn't always that way. Learn more here about the history of the Canadian toonie, several examples of coins you can purchase from us, and an explanation of the toonie's durable components.
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1996-1999:
The first year of the toonie was 1996. It looked much like the coin we know and love today. In 1999, however, Inuk artist Germaine Arnaktauyok designed an image of an Inuit drum dance to commemorate the founding of the new territory of Nunavut. That year, the polar bear design wasn’t circulated in order to celebrate the new territory.
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2000-2009:
After the year of celebrating Nunavut in 1999, the Royal Canadian Mint resumed striking toonies with a polar bear. For the year 2000, however, the commissioned artist created a scene with a female polar bear and her two cubs. The symbolism was designed to communicate the passing on of knowledge from one generation to the next. The Mint returned to the original design in 2001, with a special 10th anniversary toonie in 2006 and one marking Quebec City’s 400th anniversary two years later.
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2010-2019:
This decade saw a number of Canadian anniversaries, and the Mint produced special two-dollar coins for each of them. Canada's boreal forest (which covers over half of its landmass), the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, the 100th anniversary of the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McRae, and the 150th anniversary of Canada's Confederation, among other anniversaries, were all memorialized in durable legal tender. In 2012, the toonie’s design was upgraded with new security features.
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2020-Present:
2020 saw commemorative toonies for both the 100th anniversary of Haida artist Bill Reid’s birth and the 75th anniversary of World War II. The Bill Reid coin features the Haida grizzly bear, known as Xhuwaji, alongside two engraved maple leaves. Check out this blog to learn more about this coin. The World War II collector's coin features a large "V" for Victory and a colourful torch with orange and yellow flames. 2021 featured a coin marking the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin.
What Are Toonies Made Of?
Toonies have to be durable to be useful. To this end, the Royal Canadian Mint combines nickel, steel, brass, aluminum, and bronze. From 1996 to 2012, the toonie outer ring was made of 99% nickel, while the inner core was made of 92% copper, 6% aluminum, and 2% nickel. After 2012, the outer ring became multi-ply nickel-plated steel, with an inner core of multi-ply brass-plated aluminum and bronze. During this past decade, the toonie's weight was reduced to 6.92 g from 7.30 g, and its thickness was reduced to 1.75 mm from 1.80 mm. The reason for the change was that the Royal Canadian Mint incorporated multi-ply plated steel technology. This particular metal produces an electromagnetic signature designed to thwart counterfeiting. Regular alloy in the previous coin was more prone to fraud and duplication. Additionally, nickel is a more volatile commodity when it comes to price and supply, whereas steel has a more predictable bulk value.
Collecting Coins and Discovering More about Canada’s Toonie
If you are interested in learning more about the toonie and other coins in Canadian history, Colonial Acres provides regular monthly blogs for your reading pleasure. Discover more about subjects ranging from the transition of paper money to coins and even learn about the city that hosts Canada’s Giant Toonie. There are many elements and features that makes coin collecting so enjoyable and our team here at Colonial is here to help.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND CANADA’S GIANT TOONIE
If you’ve spent any time in Canada, the toonie is likely a familiar sight. Introduced in 1996, the two-dollar coin is one of the official Canadian coins used for normal circulation. A slightly less common sight, however, is the giant toonie. This unique item is a must-see for any numismatist in the Northumberland County area.
NEW 2021 COLLECTOR SET WITH $2 COIN & BANK NOTE
If you’re a Canadian coin enthusiast, the new 2021 Collector Set with $2 Coin and Bank Note is the perfect addition to your coin collection. Produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, this coin and banknote set celebrates the rich history of the Canadian toonie. Here’s everything you need to know about what makes this set so special.
COUNTERFIET TOONIE? WHAT CANADIANS SHOULD LOOK FOR!
If you purchase rolls of Canadian two-dollar coins at your local bank, up to 2% of the coins you purchase could be counterfeit. According to an Ontario-based numismatics expert, suspected counterfeit toonies have been circulating since at least November of last year.
