2 dollars 2024 - Nunangat
By thecanadiannumismatist | Wednesday, 6 November 2024
The Royal Canadian Mint issued a $2 commemorative circulation coin as an invitation to all people living in Canada to celebrate Inuit Nunangat.
According to the Royal Canadian Mint, this coin is also an invitation to learn more about the distinct ways of life and culture of Inuit thriving in this vast northern homeland.
Four different artists, each representing one of the four regions of Inuit Nunangat, have collaborated on designing its reverse. On the coin, Inuit unity is symbolized through the four artists’ joint representation of the story of Nuliajuk, spirit of the sea, and through an ulu representing each of their homes within the Inuit homeland. This coin will begin circulating as of today.
Nuliajuk’s story is one of the most important in Inuit culture, and we are excited that she will now be honored in Canadian currency, the way we have honored her in our hearts and imaginations since time immemorial. Congratulations on a beautiful design by Mary Okheena, Charlotte Karetak, Thomassie Mangiok, and Tegan Voisey. We are also proud of this work in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mint, who have collaborated with Inuit on this project in a genuine and respectful manner.
- Natan Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) is the national representative organization for 70,000 Inuit in Canada, the majority of whom live in the 51 communities spread across the four Inuit regions of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut, which comprise the Inuit homeland. Inuit Nunangat makes up more than 40 percent of Canada’s land area and more than 72 percent of its coastline. ITK represents the rights and interests of Inuit at the national level through a democratic governance structure that represents all Inuit regions.
We are thankful to have been given the opportunity to work with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and four talented Inuit artists to celebrate Inuit Nunangat on a new circulation coin. Collaborating with the communities to tell their story is how we at the Royal Canadian Mint seek to engage all people living in Canada, and we are pleased to share Inuit stories far and wide by celebrating Inuit Nunangat in this way.
- Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint
The artwork appearing on the reverse of the 2024 $2 circulation coin celebrating Inuit Nunangat is the creation of Tegan Voisey (Makkovik, Nunatsiavut), Thomassie Mangiok (Ivujivik, Nunavik), Charlotte Karetak (Arviat, Nunavut) and Mary Okheena (Ulukhaktok, Inuvialuit Settlement Region). The inner core of the coin features an image of Nuliajuk, spirit of the sea, wearing an atigi (parka), and clockwise from Nuliajuk are a walrus, two beluga whales, a seal, and an arctic char.
On the right of the outer ring appear four different artistic interpretations of uluit (knives), whose appearance is derived from the traditional shape for uluit found in each region, and that act as each of the artist’s signatures. The inscription “Inuit Nunangat” appears on the left. The coin’s obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.
Walking the path of reconciliation includes honouring the rich cultural contributions of Indigenous Peoples. Inuit have called the North home for time immemorial, and it is fitting that the toonie—whose iconic polar bear has long spotlighted the Arctic—will now share the vibrant Inuit culture and distinct ways of life in Inuit Nunangat with all Canadians.
- Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Limited to a mintage of three million coins, of which two million are coloured.
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