A distinctive new toonie goes into circulation this month honouring the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Royal Canadian Mint said it bears all the design elements of the standard $2 toonie, with one distinction. The outer ring is black.
The mint said the feature is “reminiscent of a mourning armband, echoing the loss felt by millions of Canadians upon the passing of their queen.”
Since her ascension to the throne in 1952, four images of the Queen have graced Canadian coins. The first debuted in 1953.
Earlier this year, the mint celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee marking her 70th year on the throne, with a two-coin set and a 1 oz pure platinum coin.
The public will start to see the coins in December as almost five million go into circulation. They’ll gradually appear as banks re-stock their $2 coin inventories. If demand is high, the mint will produce more.
