Canada's new C$2 coin glows in the dark

London: Canada’s new two-dollar coin, known as the “toonie,” is said to be the world's first glow-in-the-dark coin to enter into circulation.

The winning design was chosen from among 10,000 entries and depicts boaters looking up at the northern lights.

In the daylight, the northern lights on the coin appear blue and green. But in the dark, they glow. The coin was designed by Timothy Hsia, a doctor from British Columbia, who was inspired by the design contest’s theme, “Our wonders”. “I wanted to choose a subject that was truly wonderful,” he told the BBC, adding “there is nothing more truly wonderful than Canada’s northern lights.”

The Royal Canadian Mint is releasing three million toonies to commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary.