The Royal Canadian Mint has launched a new toonie to commemorate the legacy of B.C. Haida artist Bill Reid, more than 20 years after his death.
The new $2 coin enters circulation Tuesday, on the 100th anniversary of Reid's birth.
"The mint is delighted to add the story of Bill Reid's pivotal role in raising awareness of Haida art, and the traditions and culture it represents to the long list of circulation coins celebrating what makes us proud to be Canadian," said Marie Lemay, president and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint in a written statement.
The commemorative coin was set to be launched in B.C. earlier this year, but its release was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trailblazer of Northwest Coast art
Reid's work is widely acknowledged for helping to bring global recognition and respect to Northwest Coast art.
Born in Victoria, B.C., in 1920 to a Haida mother and American father with Scottish-German roots, he began exploring his Haida heritage in his early 20s. Reid eventually became renowned for his detailed carvings, like Raven and the First Men — a cedar sculpture at the UBC Museum of Anthropology.
Linda posted this video recently on our imaginative banknotes....worth looking at:
https://lindaandcec.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-canadian-dollar.html
