Inuit Nunangat $2 Commemorative Coins

Summary#

This Order authorizes the Royal Canadian Mint to produce 2 commemorative circulation coins, each of the $2 denomination, that celebrate Inuit Nunangat. One coin will be produced with colour and one without; both share the same design. The item was published in the Canada Gazette on June 5, 2024.

What it does#

• Authorizes the Mint to issue 2 circulation coins of $2 each under the Royal Canadian Mint Act.
• Specifies the coins’ size as 28.03 mm in diameter and that they follow the usual technical characteristics for circulation coins.
• Sets the obverse (front) design to show the effigy of King Charles III, by Steven Rosati, with the inscriptions “CANADA 2024,” “CHARLES III,” “D·G·REX,” and “2 DOLLARS.”
• Sets the reverse (back) design to tell the story of Nuliajuk (the sea spirit), and to depict a walrus, narwhal, two beluga whales, a seal, and an arctic char around Nuliajuk.
• On the outer ring of the reverse, the design includes the stylized wording “inUiT nUnAngAT”, four traditional uluit (representing the four regions of Inuit Nunangat), maple-leaf security marks, and a traditional Inuit pattern.
• One version will have colour on the inner core (blue background and coloured elements); the other will be the same design without colour.
• The coin edges will show the inscriptions “CANADA” and “2 DOLLARS,” with a maple leaf before and after “CANADA.”
• The Order comes into force upon approval (the text says production will start after approval).

Who's affected#

• People living in Canada who use cash or collect coins; these coins will be distributed through banks and public coin exchanges.
• Coin collectors and hobbyists, who often keep commemorative circulation coins out of circulation.
• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the four Inuit artists who worked on the design, and the Inuit regions represented: Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.
• The Royal Canadian Mint and its Winnipeg production facility, which will manufacture the coins.
• Small businesses and the general public are not expected to face additional costs from this Order.

Why it matters#

• The coins are a widely accessible way to raise awareness about Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland that covers about 40% of Canada’s land area and over 70% of its coastlines.
• They recognize and share Inuit stories and art with a national audience through an everyday object — the circulation coin.
• The design was developed in collaboration with Inuit representatives and four Inuit artists, so it aims to reflect regional styles and cultural meaning.
• Because commemorative circulation coins are issued at face value and widely distributed, they can prompt public conversation, education, and cultural recognition without changing how money is used in daily transactions.