Behind the Design: CN Tower Commemorative $2 Circulation Coin
- Mar 31, 2026
- History
- 2 minute read
Our new glow-in-the-dark commemorative $2 circulation coin celebrates Canada’s tallest freestanding structure and world-famous landmark, the CN Tower. Designed by Canadian illustrator Carl Wiens, the coin’s reverse shows the Toronto skyline—past, present, and aglow at night—unmistakably defined by Canada’s National Tower.
Keep reading to learn more about the design details behind the 2026 50th Anniversary of the CN Tower commemorative $2 circulation coin.
Our new glow-in-the-dark commemorative $2 circulation coin celebrates Canada’s tallest freestanding structure and world-famous landmark, the CN Tower. Designed by Canadian illustrator Carl Wiens, the coin’s reverse shows the Toronto skyline—past, present, and aglow at night—unmistakably defined by Canada’s National Tower.
Keep reading to learn more about the design details behind the 2026 50th Anniversary of the CN Tower commemorative $2 circulation coin.
CN Tower: Coin Design Details
50th anniversary
The CN Tower officially opened to the public on June 26, 1976.
Canada’s National Tower
The tallest freestanding structure in the Western hemisphere.
Toronto skyline
In black is the city’s skyline as it appeared in 1976, standing in the shadow of today’s taller skyscrapers in darker blue.
Lake Ontario
The city’s skyline is reflected in Lake Ontario’s blue waters.
Skyline silhouettes
Representing five decades of growth and architectural evolution, the 1976 skyline appears on the left and the 2026 cityscape appears on the right of the outer ring.
Aglow at Night: How to Make Your Coloured CN Tower $2 Coin Glow in the Dark
Want to make your coloured CN Tower coin glow? Expose the coin to natural light or hold it under an ultraviolet light source like a UV flashlight (your phone flashlight won’t do the trick), turn off the lights, and watch your coin glow to life!
“Crown Jewel” of the Toronto Skyline
“I'm old enough to remember the construction of the CN Tower. […] I'm still impressed with the design and durability of it all. My intent [for the coin design] was to create a visual tribute that showcased the CN Tower within a growing and changing city,” says Wiens. “I loved working with glow-in-the-dark ink in the design, because the tower shines like a beacon at night, brightly lit in different hues and colours. I also incorporated blue tones to reflect Toronto's [sport] franchises.”
Reaching for the Sky: A Celebration of Canada’s Tallest Icon
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the CN Tower—Canada’s glowing icon that has been lighting up the Toronto skyline and Canadian hearts since 1976—with our newest commemorative $2 circulation coin.
Designs, official marks, and images of the CN Tower are trademarks of Canada Lands Company Limited, used under license.