RCAF 100th Anniversary $2 Coins

Summary#

An order lets the Royal Canadian Mint issue two commemorative $2 circulation coins for the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). One coin will have colour, the other will not. The order was approved in late May 2024 and published in the Canada Gazette on June 5, 2024.

What it does#

• Authorizes the Mint to produce two $2 circulation coins with the same design; one coloured version and one non‑coloured version.
• Sets the coin diameter at 28.03 mm and uses the characteristics listed under the Royal Canadian Mint Act.
• Obverse (front): shows the effigy of King Charles III (design by Steven Rosati, with the initials “SR”), and the inscription 2024 on the outer ring.
• Reverse (back), inner core: shows the RCAF roundel, a CC-130H Hercules in flight, the dates 1924 and 2024, and a row of conifer trees. The coloured coin uses a blue inner core and coloured roundel and dates.
• Reverse, outer ring: shows eight RCAF aircraft (four on each side as seen from above), the artist’s initials “PYF”, two security marks made of maple‑leaf motifs, and the wording with the numeral 2 between the security marks and the inscriptions “CANADA” and “DOLLARS”.
• Edge: bears the inscriptions “CANADA” and 2 DOLLARS, with a maple leaf before and after “CANADA”.
• The order was approved by the Governor in Council on May 24, 2024 and registered on May 27, 2024; production will start once the Mint proceeds with its production order.

Who's affected#

• Royal Canadian Mint (will design, produce and distribute the coins).
• Banks and other financial institutions (will receive and distribute coins to the public).
• Coin collectors and hobbyists (special designs often attract collectors who remove coins from circulation).
• Members and veterans of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and people interested in Canadian military history.
• The general public who use cash — the coins are legal‑tender circulation coins and will be usable in everyday transactions.

Why it matters#

• The coins mark the RCAF centennial and aim to raise public awareness of the force’s history and roles (defence, search‑and‑rescue, disaster response).
• Because they are circulation coins, many Canadians will encounter them in everyday transactions; some will be kept by collectors, which affects how widely they circulate.
• The government says the program creates no extra cost for the public or businesses and is intended as a commemorative public outreach tool.