New circulation toonie for Canada's 150th birthday designed by Richmond resident

Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint has released the tails designs of its new circulation coins celebrating the 150th anniversary of Canadian confederation in 2017, and among the new coins is a new design by a resident from Richmond, British Columbia.

Dr. Timothy Hsia’s artwork featuring a depiction of the Northern Lights and a pair of paddlers was selected as the design for the toonie, the two-dollar circulation coin.

“The Northern Lights are a true Canadian wonder, one that all Canadians from sea to sea can appreciate and call their own. To me, this radiant light display embodies Canada’s unity and beauty,” said Hsia in a statement.

“I titled my design ‘Dance of the Spirits’ after how the Cree people attribute the northern lights to the special moment when the spirits manifest themselves, dancing, to the human eyes and minds below. I am thrilled that so many fellow Canadians share this sense of wonder I feel for Canada and her glorious nature.”

Last year, the Mint launched a national competition that invited the public to design the circulation coin series as part of the federal government’s Canada 150 celebrations. Thousands of entries were received, and the public voted on a shortlist of entries for each category: Our Wonders, Our Character, Our Achievements, Our Passions, and Canada’s Future.

Over one million online votes were submitted for all the categories, and Hsia’s entry won the Our Wonders category.

There will also be new circulation coins for the loonie, quarter, dime, and nickel.

A design by Wesley Klassen of St. Catherines, Ontario, showcasing prominent landmarks such as Vancouver’s Lions Gate Bridge, Toronto’s CN Tower, and Quebec City’s Chateau Frontenac, was chosen for the new one-dollar circulation coin.

Other designs include: a 25-cent circulation coin with a turtle, bird, and beaver decorated with aboriginal patterns by Richmond Hill’s Joelle Wong, designed when she was only eight years old; a ten-cent coin with an airborne maple leaf with the wings and tail of a dove by Calgary’s Amy Choi; and five-cent coin with an aboriginal stylized beaver by Nova Scotia’s Gerald Gloade.

All of the coins will enter circulation in spring 2017.