2 dollars

(1996-1998 and 2001-2003)

When introduced in 1996, the 2-dollar circulation coin showed a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Canadian artist Dora de Pedery-Hunt. This image of Her Majesty appeared on all Canadian circulation coins from 1990 to 2003. The iconic Polar Bear design on the reverse is the work of renowned wildlife artist Brent Townsend.

The Founding of Nunavut (1999)

Nunavut First Nations artist Germaine Arnaktauyok created a special design to commemorate the founding of Nunavut, Canada's newest territory. This design appeared on all 1999 2-dollar coins produced for general circulation. In 1999, the Polar Bear design appeared only in a limited number of special coin sets produced for the collector market.

Path of Knowledge (2000)

For the new millennium, artist Tony Bianco illustrated a female polar bear and her two cubs to represent the transfer of knowledge from one generation to the next. The inscription on the coin's outer rim reads "Knowledge - Le Savoir." This was the only "tails" design to appear on the 2000 2-dollar circulation coin.

Two new coins for the 10th Anniversary of the 2-dollar Circulation Coin (2006)

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of its introduction, the 2-dollar circulation coin was produced in two versions: the first honouring the traditional Polar Bear design of artist Tony Bianco and the second featuring his updated pose of the bear looking up at the dramatic lines of an Aurora Borealis.

It is important to note the position of 1996-2006 double date on each coin: the traditional bear design shows the date beneath the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, while the updated bear shows the date above the effigy.

In 2006, we also introduced the Mint Mark on the obverse side of all Canadian circulation coinage. The Mint Mark encompasses the three elements of the Mint's corporate name: M for Mint; a Maple leaf for Canadian; and a crown for Royal and Crown Corporation. It features the Mint design within a circle and consists of a symbol depicting a stylized maple leaf emerging from the letter M.

With the exception of the 2008 2-dollar circulation coin celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Quebec City, the Mint Mark always appears beneath the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse of 2-dollar circulation coins produced since 2006. Since the introduction of the Mint Mark, the maple leaf no longer appears above the effigy of Her Majesty.

400th Anniversary of the founding of Quebec City (2008)

Quebec artist Geneviève Bertrand won a design competition to create a new reverse of the 2-dollar circulation coin commemorating the 400th anniversary of Quebec City. The date 1608 appeared on the left side of the outer ring, while 2008 appeared on the right of the ring on this commemorative coin's reverse side. Only six million of these special coins circulated, in addition to more than 17 million 2008 Toonies produced with the traditional Polar Bear design.

As the date was moved to the reverse side of this commemorative coin, the Mint Mark was moved to the core of the coin on the obverse, to the immediate left of Her Majesty's effigy.

1996 – 2012

Composition: outer ring 99% nickel, inner core 92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel
Weight (g): 7.3
Diameter (mm): 28
Thickness (mm): 1.8

2012 – present

Composition: outer ring – multi-ply nickel plated steel, insert – multi-ply brass plated aluminum bronze
Weight (g): 6.92
Diameter (mm): 28
Thickness (mm): 1.75

Two laser marks of maple leaves, each within a circle, at the bottom of the coin's reverse

A virtual image of two maple leaves will appear at the top of the coin – a different image is produced as the coin is turned from side to side.

Edge-lettering of the words "CANADA" and "2 DOLLARS" are engraved along the coin's outer edge.

1996 – 1999

2000 – 2009

2010 – 2019

2020 – present