Throughout its history, the Royal Canadian Mint has been known for its innovation, having played a key role in the development of colorized coins. Today it continues that legacy, as it prepares to become the very first mint in the world to release a glow in the dark coin. The coins will mark the 150^th year anniversary of Canada’s independence from Britain.

How Glow In The Dark Coinage Came About

It isn’t a surprise to industry experts that the RCM is moving in this direction, as the mint has been experimenting with this technology since 2012. For instance, they released collectible quarters featuring dinosaurs which had skeletons which would glow when the lights turned out, and in 2015, they released a set of four coins comprised of completely silver, one of which was the Big Dipper which used a full color image and once exposed to light and then watched in the dark; each of its seven stars would glow.

This feat is made possible through the usage of luminescent materials which are attached to the ink. Other more recent RCM coins also utilize black light producing glowing images which are multi-colored. The majority of these coins were limited to no more than a few thousand issues, which make them highly sought after by collectors. These earlier releases laid the groundwork for true glow in the dark coins which the Royal Canadian Mint is expected to release soon. The new coin will be referred to as a “Toonie” and is planned to have a face value of $2.

What You Should Know About These Coins

The new coin is initially planned to be sold as part of a collection which will commemorate Canada’s 150^th year independence, but afterwards, they will be sold in general circulation. One side of this coin will use a classical design, featuring the traditional profile of Queen Elizabeth II, while the reverse side features a glow in the dark image of two persons paddling in a boat in a northern lake, with an aurora borealis above them.

On the rim, the words “Canada 2 Dollars 1867 2017” can be seen, along with four images of the maple leaf. The lake has a green, blue and yellow color, and after being exposed to light and then watched in darkness, the aurora borealis will display a ghastly green color.

The image was designed by artist Timothy Hsia who won the national competition, and a silver variant is also expected to be released for collectors. It will weigh about 7.96 grams, and to keep prices reasonable, the RCM has said it will feature a red and white Canadian flag that is full color with fireworks in the backdrop which will glow in the dark.

This coin will have a denomination of $5 and so far, nothing has been mentioned about the number of issues which are planned. Although these glow in the dark coins may not be functionally revolutionary, they do help to increase awareness of the RCM as a global innovator while simultaneously boosting their profitability.