Canada's New $2 Coin Honouring Indigenous Artist Daphne Odjig

Canadians may want to start checking their change a little more closely — the Royal Canadian Mint has just unveiled a striking new $2 commemorative circulation coin celebrating the life and work of Indigenous artist Daphne Odjig.

Unveiled on Thursday, September 4, the coin pays tribute to Odjig’s groundbreaking contributions to Indigenous art, which transformed how it was appreciated in Canada and around the world. Born in 1919 in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Odjig rose to international recognition through her bold, expressive works that fused tradition and innovation.

“Today, we are honoured to issue a circulation coin that shares the story of Daphne Odjig, whose art and advocacy transformed appreciation for Indigenous art in Canada and the world,” said Marie Lemay, president and CEO of the Mint.

Odjig is remembered as both an artist and an advocate, elevating Indigenous voices in the art world during a time when cultural practices were actively suppressed in Canada. She became known for her fine-line sketches and richly coloured large-scale paintings, with a career that included a cultural awakening at the 1964 Wiikwemkoong Pow Wow and work spanning British Columbia, Manitoba, and beyond.

The new toonie incorporates elements of two of Odjig’s significant pieces from the Canadian Museum of History’s collection: The Folk Singer (1977) and The Indian in Transition (1978). The colourized version of the coin features a female figure holding a drum, surrounded by an engraved design of a fisher — a nod to Odjig’s surname. King Charles III, designed by Canadian artist Steven Rosati, appears on the obverse.

The special circulation coin is limited to a mintage of three million, with two million of them colourized. Beginning September 4, the coins will start appearing in everyday change as banks and businesses stock new supplies.

Whether you’re a casual collector or simply appreciate Canada’s rich cultural history, spotting one of these new toonies in your pocket will be a reminder of Daphne Odjig’s lasting legacy — a vibrant recognition of an artist who helped redefine the place of Indigenous art in Canada.