2025 Canada $2 Celebrating the Life and Art of Daphne Odjig Non-Colourized Coin (Brilliant Uncirculated)

2025 Canada $2 Celebrating the Life and Art of Daphne Odjig Non-Colourized Coin (Brilliant Uncirculated)

Art as a force for change: Daphne Odjig.

Daphne Odjig (1919-2016) was not only one of the most celebrated artists active in Canada in the 20th century, but a pathbreaking advocate for Indigenous art and culture. Her immense portfolio includes everything from minimalist fine-line sketches to massive paintings blazed with bold colour.

The recipient of some of Canada’s highest honours, and the first First Nations woman artist to be represented on a Canadian circulation coin, Daphne Odjig is honoured on all 25 coins contained in this Special Wrap Roll. Enhanced with colour, each $2 coin’s reverse pays tribute to her legacy as a creative force for change.

Celebrate the artist and cultural activist who reshaped perceptions.

Features

• Exceptional art, exceptional artist. This $2 commemorative circulation coin honours one of the most important artists active in Canada in the 20th century: Daphne Odjig, who, through her colourful works and advocacy, worked to put Indigenous art on an equal footing with other fine art.
• A first for a Canadian circulation coin. This is the first circulation coin to focus on the life and work of a First Nations woman artist.
• Painting a story. Selectively enhanced with vivid colours, the $2 coin’s reverse design is based on Odjig’s Folk Singer, which is representative of the bold line and colour work that characterized much of the artist’s work.
• Collect Canada’s circulation coins by the roll. Each Non-Colourized Special Wrap Roll contains 25 selectively coloured $2 Celebrating the Life and Art of Daphne Odjig commemorative circulation coins, which come in a custom paper wrap. A Non-colourized Special Wrap Roll of engraved-only $2 coins is also available—collect both versions!
• All are uncirculated coins. Inside each Special Wrap Roll, all 25 coins are uncirculated: they all have a newly minted quality and feature the same colour-enhanced reverse design.
• Limited supply. Only 15,000 rolls available.

Design

The reverse design is adapted from Folk Singer, by acclaimed First Nations artist Daphne Odjig (1919-2016), whose signature is reproduced on the right. The depiction shows a bird figure wrapping its large, engraved wings around the selectively coloured female figure, who is holding a drum. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.

Layers of meaning
On the reverse, the outer ring includes Odjig’s drawing of a fisher, as it appears above her signature on her 1978 masterpiece The Indian in Transition, where it serves as a visual representation of her surname (the anglicized version of “Odjig” is “Fisher”)

A view of the reverse design, visible on one or both ends of the roll.
Each coin included in the Special Wrap Roll has a reverse and obverse design. The production process and quality assurance for uncirculated Special Wrap Rolls allows for either the reverse design on both ends, or the reverse design on one end and the obverse on the other. It is not possible for the Mint to guarantee or foresee which of the two versions will be shipped.

Packaging

Each roll consists of 25 coins of 2025 Canada $2 Celebrating the Life and Art of Daphne Odjig Non-Colourized Coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

Specifications

Face Value: $2
Mintage: -
Composition: Outer ring: Three-ply nickel-plated steel; Inner core: Three-ply brass-plated aluminum bronze
Weight (g): 6.99
Diameter (mm): 28
Finish: BU