CN Tower 50th Anniversary $2 Coin

Summary#

The federal order Order Authorizing the Issue of Two Two-dollar Commemorative Circulation Coins Specifying the Characteristics and Determining the Designs (CN Tower) lets the Royal Canadian Mint produce two $2 circulation coins to mark the 50th anniversary of the CN Tower. One coin will be a coloured version with glow-in-the-dark accents and the other will be the same design without colour; both are planned for release ahead of the tower’s anniversary in June 2026.

What it does#

• Authorizes the Mint to issue 2 new $2 circulation coins with a diameter of 28.03 mm.
• Sets the obverse (front) design to use the effigy of King Charles III by Steven Rosati.
• Sets the reverse (back) design to show the CN Tower with a historical Toronto skyline and a contemporary skyline, and the inscription “50 YEARS ANS”.
• Approves two versions of the same design:
  • a coloured version with glow-in-the-dark elements, and
  • a non-coloured version.
• Specifies ring and edge details such as inscriptions “CANADA”, “2 DOLLARS”, bilingual text “LA TOUR CN TOWER”, security maple-leaf marks, and the artist’s initials CW.
• Allows production to take place at the Mint’s Winnipeg facility and distribution through financial institutions, with some coins held for public coin exchanges.

Who's affected#

• Coin collectors and hobbyists who follow commemorative issues.
• People who use cash and could receive these coins in regular circulation.
• Banks and credit unions that distribute new circulation coins.
• The Royal Canadian Mint (production and design teams).
• The CN Tower and Canada Lands Corporation, who worked with the Mint on the design.
• The general public is not expected to face extra costs; the order says there are no new fees for Canadians or businesses.

Why it matters#

• The coins mark the 50th anniversary of a widely known Canadian landmark and help tell a national story through an everyday object.
• The coloured, glow-in-the-dark version is a novelty likely to attract collectors, which means many coins may be taken out of circulation and kept as souvenirs.
• The coins remain normal legal-tender $2 pieces and will work the same way in everyday transactions.
• There is no expected financial impact on the public or small businesses; this is mainly a cultural and commemorative action.