2016-03-31 Thu

The brand-new, 28 mm, $2 Canadian coin was officially introduced on 19th February 1996, 20 years ago. Unlike any other circulating Canadian coins, this one was bimetallic with the date shown on the obverse. Apart from that, the font used for the inscriptions were different from those on the earlier coins. In 2003, the obverse effigy of Queen Elizabeth changed from that of Dora de Pédery-Hunt to that of Susanna Blunt. Townsend’s polar bear design remained on the reverse for 20 years but has not always been used for circulation coins.

For 20 years, the inner core and outer ring have been bonded by a patented locking system developed by the engineering division of the RCM. Security upgrades were introduced in 2012 where the inner core changed to aluminium-bronze plated with multi-ply brass. The outer ring was made of steel plated with multi-ply nickel. This technology provided each coin with a distinct electromagnetic signature that makes them difficult to be counterfeited. Other new security features included two laser-engraved maple leaves, each within a circle, at the bottom of each coin’s reverse; a virtual image of two maple leaves at the top of each coin that displays different views as the coin is tilted from side to side; the words “CANADA” and “2 DOLLARS” engraved along the outer edge. In 2013, the International Association of Currency Affairs declared the coin to have the best security features in the world.

A 27 ft. “Big Toonie” has been erected in Campbellford, home to the polar bear reverse designer, Brent Townsend.