What to know
- The CN Tower is celebrating its 50th anniversary on June 26, 2026, with a commemorative $2 coin designed by Canadian illustrator Carl Wiens.
- The coin features glow-in-the-dark elements for the second time in Canadian coin history, showing two Toronto skylines, Lake Ontario, the CN Tower, and blue tones representing local sports teams.
- Around 3 million coins will enter circulation, with Canadians on social media expressing excitement and interest in collecting this special edition piece.
Canada’s iconic landmark will be getting its semicentennial flowers in the shape of a limited edition coin with some stand-out features.
The CN Tower, the country’s tallest freestanding structure, celebrates its 50th birthday on June 26, 2026.
To celebrate the tower’s golden jubilee, a commemorative two dollar coin was designed by Canadian illustrator Carl Wiens.
The coin was premiered with Wiens alongside the Royal Canadian Mint, a crown corporation behind the creation of collectable official currency in the country.
For only the second time in the Mint’s history, the coin will have the ability to glow-in-the-dark when exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) light.
“I loved working with glow-in-the-dark ink in the design, because the tower shines like a beacon at night, brightly lit in different hues and colours,” Wiens said in part on the official Mint website.
The first time a Canadian coin had a glow-in-the-dark feature was in 2017 on the “Dance of the Spirits” $2 toonie, which was created for Canada’s 150th anniversary.
Other details of the coin include two skylines in the image, signifying how Toronto’s current skyline reflects how it looked in 1976.
Additionally, it displays Lake Ontario, the 50th year label, the skyline along the rim of the coin, and the CN Tower in the centre.
“I also incorporated blue tones to reflect Toronto’s [sport] franchises,” Wiens added on the website. “…My intent [for the coin design] was to create a visual tribute that showcased the CN Tower within a growing and changing city.”
About 3 million of these special edition coins will be entering circulation.
Online reaction
Canadians across social media have been sharing their thoughts on the unique coin, as it celebrates the once tallest freestanding tower in the world.
“I need this in my coin collection!” one Instagram user wrote under the unveiling video.
Another Instagram user echoed the excitement.
“Oh wow ! This is so cool,” they said.
“I don’t even use cash [anymore] but I want one!” another Instagram user said.
Sharing the same sentiment was another Instagram user, saying they didn’t collect coins but wanted to own one of the 50th anniversary ones.
“I love that the two skylines are super imposed, what a cool idea!” they added.
Any one interested in purchasing the coin, or its accompanying memorabilia can do so on the Mint website.
