From one medium to another
The release of the two-dollar coin and a bit of dark trivia about Canada’s two-dollar bill.
The very last two-dollar notes ever printed, and the toonie that replaced them.
A note with a reputation?
This note would have been in circulation soon after the Canadian Pacific Railroad opened the West up to mass settlement. The portraits are of the Governor General and his wife, the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdown. 2 dollars, Dominion of Canada, 1887. NCC 1964.88.875
The Canadian two-dollar note had been around since before Confederation. But to a Western Canadian, a two-dollar bill was a relatively unfamiliar thing. As the story goes, this note became associated with the shadier dealings of the frontier era—specifically prostitution. Though this association is purely hearsay, the two-dollar bill was never popular out west.
Gifted nature artist Brent Townsend created the polar bear that has been on our toonie since 1996. 2 dollars, Canada, 1996, NCC 1996.31.40.1
In 1996, the paper note was replaced by a coin. Of course, that decision had nothing to do with any sordid associations Westerners might have had for these innocent notes. It was an economic decision—a cost-saving measure.
Paper bills simply don’t hold up to daily wear and tear nearly as well as coins do. The life expectancy of a two-dollar note was about a year. But coins can last more than 10 years. Even a polymer bank note, such as those Canada now produces, can’t match that sort of longevity. Although minting a coin costs far more than printing a note, the coin option is definitely more affordable when you consider the cost of printing 10 notes for every coin. And the history of the toonie bears that out.
Note designers hoped this simple design would make any flaws on notes counterfeited using colour copiers obvious. 2 dollars, Canada, 1986, NCC 1986.42.3
Bank notes and parking meters don’t mix
Although some Canadians were happy to see the old two-dollar notes disappear, the new coin initially met with some resistance. There were even rumours that the centre sections might fall out. These reports proved untrue and Canadians soon adapted to the new coin. After all, it is convenient for vending machines and parking meters.
In fact, the new coin ended up being so well received that the Royal Canadian Mint had to ramp up production. Some 325 million two-dollar coins were struck in the first year alone. If you periodically check your change, it’s very possible you’ll still find toonies from the first minting of 1996. Since then, annual production has varied between 10 and 30 million.
The original bird artwork for this note series was provided by renowned nature artist, John Crosby. He is best known for illustrating The Birds of Canada by W. Earl Godfrey. 2 dollars, Canada, 1986, NCC 1986.42.3
If you find this Scenes of Canada series $2 bill in your change, hang on to it. Master engraver C. Gordon Yorke created this image of hunters at Pond Inlet, Nunavut in the early 70s. It is from a photograph by Doug Wilkinson. 2 dollars, Canada, 1974, NCC 1975.185.1
A coin becomes a toonie
As its popularity grew, Canadians gave the two-dollar coin its affectionate nickname. For those of you unfamiliar with why, here’s a quick bit of social history. The Canadian one-dollar coin, featuring an illustration of a loon, quickly picked up the name “loonie.” Instead of some sort of polar bear reference, the new coin became known as a “toonie,” as in two loonies. In fact, the “bearie” was put forward, but a nickname has a life of its own and “toonie” appears to be here to stay.
In 2006, the Mint opened a competition to name the bear on the toonie. Churchill was the winning name—a reference to the Manitoba town famous for polar bear watching. The runners up were Wilbert and Plouf.
We want to hear from you! Do you have an idea for a blog post you’d like to see?
Content type(s):
Blog posts
The Museum Blog
May 20, 2014
So now you’ve decided that collecting currency is far more fascinating than collecting 14th Century Flemish altar paintings and have begun to accumulate some items. Good for you, those paintings are a bother to dust and currency is far easier to take care of.
Becoming a Collector II
By: Graham Iddon
Content type(s):
Blog posts
May 12, 2014
Collecting things is a very common human urge. Be they matchbooks, pop bottles or 17th century Flemish altar paintings, owning large numbers of the same type of thing is a fascinating pastime for many of us.
Becoming a Collector I
By: Graham Iddon
Content type(s):
Blog posts
May 2, 2014
During the planning stages stamping the word ‘final’ on any given aspect of a travelling exhibition can seem less of a directive and more of an overly optimistic suggestion.
The Adventure of Exhibit Planning III
By: Graham Iddon
Content type(s):
Blog posts
April 22, 2014
This month’s selections highlight various areas of Collection development. These include what are called financial instruments: items such as stocks, bonds shares and other articles that represent a contract to deliver money in some manner.
Notes from the Collection: Recent Acquisitions II
By: Paul S. Berry
Content type(s):
Blog posts
April 3, 2014
In early February, a small group from the Bank’s Communications Department booked a brief tour of the main floor and first basement at the Wellington Street head office. It’s still in the demolition phase of the renovation.
Museum Reconstruction - Part 1
By: Graham Iddon
Content type(s):
Blog posts
March 28, 2014
Notgeld, German for emergency money, first appeared at the beginning of World War One and was issued until 1924. Through these notes we can see the entire story of Germany’s experience with out-of-control inflation between the wars.
Notes from the Collection: Notgeld, Emergency Money from Interwar Europe
Content type(s):
Blog posts
February 27, 2014
Before the Museum closed, and the Collection moved to Gatineau, the curators regularly hosted a show and tell session for staff to see new acquisitions. With the help of the Museum’s new blog, that tradition will continue; only now, you too will be able to see and learn about some of the brilliant new stars in the Collection. Get out your sunglasses!
Notes From the Collection: Recent Acquisitions
By: Paul S. Berry
Content type(s):
Blog posts
February 14, 2014
If we had a nickel for every time people asked questions like that, we’d have… Well, I suppose we have roughly that number of nickels already; we have a long history as a currency museum after all. When the museum was open, somebody would ask a similar question several times a week.
We’re the Currency Museum, not the Mint
By: Graham Iddon
Content type(s):
Blog posts
February 7, 2014
After four months in our new digs the Collections Team is starting to settle in. But even though most of the boxes have been unpacked there is still a lot of work to do. In 2014 we will be collaborating with the Exhibitions Team on travelling exhibits and coming up with ideas for the new museum space.
Notes from the Collection: Moving Forward
By: Raewyn Passmore
Content type(s):
Blog posts
November 18, 2013
Recently, from October 3 to 5th, collections staff were at the Toronto Coin Expo, held at the Toronto Reference Library on Yonge Street. The show boasts informative lectures, a large auction of coins, tokens and paper money as well as a showroom, called a bourse, where dealers greet clients and buy and sell material.
Notes from the Collection: A Buying Trip to Toronto
By: Paul S. Berry
Content type(s):
Blog posts
