Canada releases a 2026 commemorative toonie for its 30th anniversary, featuring a "W" mint mark and double date.

Canada’s toonie, the $2 coin introduced on February 19, 1996, marks its 30th anniversary with a commemorative 2026 edition featuring a “W” mint mark and double date. Designed as a durable replacement for the $2 bill, the bimetallic coin features a polar bear on an ice floe, later named Churchill. Early concerns about breakage were disproven, though counterfeits like the “camel toe” version exist. A rare 1996 “beaded toonie” with a ring of beads is highly valuable—only four authenticated examples, one selling for over $5,000. The Royal Canadian Mint released 750,000 collector coins. The toonie is not Canada’s first $2 coin; Newfoundland issued a gold version from 1865 to 1888. Environment Canada warns of freezing rain in Ontario, with ice accumulation up to 15 mm and hazardous travel.