Description

Launched in 1996, the 2-dollar coin is more affectionately known as the “toonie”—a combination of “two” and “loonie”, the moniker for Canada’s 1-dollar coin.

Though updated in 2010 by Brent Townsend, the familiar scene on the reverse originated with Canadian artist Tony Bianco, who designed the first version in 1996. Shortly after the coin’s initial launch, the bear was dubbed “Churchill” — to the delight of residents of Churchill, Man., where polar bears are a common sight.

• Though the polar bear has remained the dominant reverse image since the coin’s launch, there have been a number of notable designs over the years, including a commemoration of the founding of the territory of Nunavut in 1999, a celebration of the new millennium in 2000, two coins celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the toonie in 2006, and a version honouring the 400^th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City in 2008.

Certificate

This reverse gold-plated 2-dollar coin is 99.99% pure silver, with a diameter of 65 millimetres and a nominal metal weight of 157.6 grams. The reverse features Brent Townsend’s image of an adult polar bear standing on an ice floe, gazing out over the early summer Arctic landscape. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

SPECIFICATIONS