Quick Coinage Facts
Years Minted: 1996-Present
Number of Types: 2
Composition: Outer Ring 99% nickel, Inner Core 92% copper 6% aluminum and 2% nickel
Diameter: 28 mm
Weight: 7.3 grams
Total Mintage: still in production
Obverse Design: Bust Design
Reverse Design: Bear Design
Introduction
In 1996 Canada eliminated production of two dollar bill currency and replaced it with a two dollar coin. With the success of its sibling the “Loonie” (loon dollar), the new two dollar coin quickly adopted a similar nickname of “Toonie” or “Twoonie”.
The new two dollar coin had unique features never seen in circulating coinage. It was the first coin to feature a bimetallic composition with an outer ring of nickel and inner core of copper. Another feature The coin has is a unique electromagnetic signal which allows each coins to be accepted (to rejected) by certain machines such as vending, parking, transit, or coin counting machines.
Design
The obverse design features a bust image of Queen Elizabeth II and the phrase "ELIZABETH II D.G. REGINA".
The reverse, designed by Brent Townsend, features a polar bear standing on a rock edge or iceberg edge while looking out onto a river with ice flow. In the corner of the design is the designer’s initials “BT”.
| Obverse | Reverse |
|---|---|
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Coin Types
Type 1 Crowned Queen: 1990-2003
Type 2 Mature Queen: 2003-Present
Major Varieties
Variety 1 Queen 50 Year Jubilee: dual date 1952-2002
Variety 2 10th Anniversary of $2 Coin: dual date 1990-2003
Variety 3 Maple Leaf Logo: 2006-Present
Market Notes
All coins are readily available and affordable.