Canada 1996 2 dollars
The first specimen was lot 42405 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2019), where it sold for $228. The catalog description[1] noted, "CANADA. 2 Dollars, 1996. ANACS PROOF-67 HEAVY CAMEO. A gold and silver bi-metallic issue with attractive mauve tone over portions of the outer silver ring." The second specimen was lot 2984 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 280 CHF (about US$336 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"CANADA, Elizabeth II. 1952-2022. 2 Dollars 2003, Ottawa. Eisbär. Bimetall: Der Kern der Münze besteht zu 50.4% aus Gold und der Ring aus 44.7% Silber. Nur 5'000 Exemplare geprägt. Polierte Platte. Im Originaletui mit Zertifikat. (dominion of Canada, Elizabeth II, 1952-2022, two dollars of 2003, Ottawa mint, polar bear, bimetallic gold and silver. Only 5,000 pieces struck, Choice Proof, In original box with certificate.)"
The one dollar coin, introduced in 1987 to replace the one dollar note, was quickly nicknamed the "loonie". This two dollar coin, introduced in 1996, was soon called the "toonie". Collector versions were struck in silver and bimetallic silver and gold (shown here).
Recorded mintage: 375,453,000 in base metal plus an unknown number in bimetallic silver/gold and 10,000 in sterling silver.
Specification: KM 270: 7.30 g, bimetallic aluminum bronze in nickel, KM-270a: 11.32 g, 28 mm diameter, silver and gold; KM 270c: 8.83 g, 0.925 silver.
Catalog reference: KM 270 (base metal), KM-270a (silver/gold, shown here), KM 270b (silver piedfort), KM 270c (silver).
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio, Matt Orsini and Cris Chatigny, The January 2019 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018.
- [2]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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