A quarter century of the toonie
February 19, 2021, marks the silver anniversary of the debut of the Canadian nickelringed copper coin popularly known as the toonie. The coin entered circulation in 1996 as a more durable replacement for the Canadian two-dollar bill. At first, however, Canadians were unsure what to call the coin that bore an image of a polar bear standing on an ice floe. While announcing the design in 1995, federal Public Works Minister David Dingwall suggested that it be dubbed the “toonie.” However, reporters were skeptical, with one suggesting to the minister, “How about the beary?” and another quipping, “How about unbearable?” Since its debut, the toonie has commemorated several significant historical milestones. Special editions were minted for the founding of Nunavut in 1999, the four-hundredth anniversary of Quebec City in 2008, and the seventy-fifth anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2020.