Toronto 
A new $2 coin entering circulation Thursday pays tribute to Daphne Odjig, the trailblazing Anishinaabe artist whose work reshaped how Indigenous art is seen across Canada and internationally.
Royal Canadian Mint
Odjig, born in 1919 in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, grew up surrounded by stories and carvings passed down from her grandfather. Despite cultural restrictions of the time, her upbringing rooted her in traditional knowledge that later inspired her art.
Odjig’s career spanned more than five decades. She moved to Toronto in the 1940s, later working in British Columbia and Manitoba, and experienced a cultural turning point at the 1964 Wiikwemkoong Pow Wow. Her style ranged from fine-line sketches to large, vivid paintings, often weaving together First Nations history and cultural traditions.
Beyond her individual work, Odjig was one of the founding members of Professional Native Indian Artists Inc., alongside Alex Janvier, Norval Morrisseau, Jackson Beardy, Carl Ray, Eddy Cobiness, and Joseph Sanchez. Together, they challenged institutions to give Indigenous artists recognition and equitable support.
The Royal Canadian Mint says the coin celebrates not only Odjig’s art but also her role in elevating Indigenous voices in Canadian culture.
Coin Design and Features:
The coin’s reverse design adapts Odjig’s 1977 piece The Folk Singer. At its centre is a female figure holding a drum, while the outer ring bears an engraved fisher image that also appears in her 1978 work The Indian in Transition. The obverse features King Charles III, designed by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.
Royal Canadian Mint
Availability and Special Editions:
Two million of the three million coins will feature colour. Both coloured and uncoloured versions can also be found in a Collector Keepsake Card or in rolls of 25. In addition, the Mint is issuing a fine silver $20 collector coin showcasing the central figure from The Folk Singer, framed by a bird motif.
Canadians can expect to see the coin in their change as banks and businesses replenish their supplies of toonies starting September 4.
For Collectors:
- 2025 Commemorative Collector Keepsake Card – Celebrating the Life and Art of Daphne Odjig: $14.95
- Folk Singer by Daphne Odjig – 1-oz. Fine Silver Coin: $129.95
- 2025 $2 Celebrating the Life and Art of Daphne Odjig Colourized Special Wrap Roll: $89.95
- 2025 $2 Celebrating the Life and Art of Daphne Odjig Non-colourized Special Wrap Roll: $89.95
- 2025 $2 Celebrating the Life and Art of Daphne Odjig Special Wrap Roll Box Set: $187.95
- The 2025 Special Wrap Roll Commemorative Collection: From $115.95 per product
These editions are available online at mint.ca, through the Mint’s Winnipeg boutique, participating Canada Post outlets, and dealers worldwide. Orders can also be placed by phone at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US.
