The Tribute: W Mint Mark series celebrates Canada’s circulation coins and tells their story, beginning with our “youngest” circulation coin: the $2 piece, or Toonie.

Re-created in 99.99% pure silver with a tailored specimen finish and the “W” mint mark of the Winnipeg Mint, this affordable, all-silver tribute to Canada’s bi-metallic circulation coin features the beloved polar bear design that has appeared on hundreds of millions of $2 pieces since the coin denomination was introduced on February 19, 1996.

Coin #1 is the first pure silver numismatic series struck at the Winnipeg Mint.

Good to know

99.99% pure silver
Qualifies for free shipping
GST and HST exempt
Features the "W" Mint Mark
First of a collection of 6 coins
Includes serialized certificate

The six Tribute: W Mint Mark coins are available for individual purchase or with a series subscription that guarantees a complete set.

About the $2 coin

Introduced on February 19, 1996, as a more durable and cost-effective replacement for the $2 banknote, the “Toonie” broke new ground as the first Canadian bimetallic circulation coin—an innovative feat made possible by a patented locking mechanism and a new striking process. Thirty years is the estimated life expectancy for a Toonie, while the old $2 paper banknote was expected to last just one year. Canada’s $2 circulation coin is the only denomination that has been exclusively struck in Winnipeg.

The Toonie’s iconic polar bear is instantly recognizable, but did you know it has a name? In 2006, we held a Name Our Polar Bear Contest, and “Churchill” was the first-place winner with 34% of the 166,635 votes cast. Fittingly, it’s a nod to the northern Manitoba community that is famous for polar bear watching. The runners-up in our naming contest were Wilbert (26%) and Plouf (15%).

About the series

The series begins in 2023 with our tribute to the beloved Toonie, and there’s more to come:

Coin 1: Polar Bear
Coin 2: Loon
Coin 3: Coat of Arms
Coin 4: Caribou
Coin 5: Bluenose
Coin 6: Beaver

About the polar bear

The polar bear is the largest land carnivore yet is surprisingly tiny and helpless at birth. Blind, toothless, and covered in a very fine fur that makes them look hairless, newborn cubs only measure about 30 centimetres long and weigh less than a kilogram. Cubs grow rapidly during the first months, and they usually stay by their mother’s side for two to three years.

About the design

This coin is elegantly encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell box, complete with a sleek black beauty box. The clamshell box boasts a smooth, glossy black exterior with a plush, black velvet-like interior where the coin rests. Upon opening, you'll be greeted by the coin's reverse, showcasing the polar bear.

The Toonie’s classic polar bear design features a satin sheen, while the field’s textured appearance is the result of angled lines inspired by the Winnipeg Mint’s pyramid-shaped building.

Obverse: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The obverse center showcases the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Susanna Blunt, surrounded by a thin ring. It includes the inscriptions "Elizabeth II," "D.G. Regina" and “1952-2022” around the edge of the coin.

Reverse: The polar bear

Designed by Brent Townsend, the reverse side of the coin features a polar bear on an ice floe, standing on all four legs looking out at the water, against a mountainous background. Encircling this central image are the words “Canada,” “2 dollars” and the “W” mint mark. The initials BT are in the lower right section of the inner circle.

Product # 245923

$2 Pure Silver Coin - Tribute: W Mint Mark - Polar Bear (2023)