2001 – 2 Dollars Toonie Canada

The 2001 Canadian two-dollar coin, commonly called the “Toonie,” is a bi-metallic coin with a nickel outer ring and an aluminum-bronze inner core. It weighs 7.3 grams, measures 28 mm in diameter, and features on the reverse an image of an adult polar bear standing on an early summer ice floe, designed by wildlife artist Brent Townsend. The obverse displays the crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Dora de Pedery-Hunt, surrounded by the inscription “ELIZABETH II D.G. REGINA.” The coin was introduced in 1996 to replace the two-dollar bill and is known for its distinctive patented locking mechanism that joins the two metal parts, giving the coin durability about 20 times longer than paper currency.