2 dollars – Discovery of Insulin

Designed by Canadian artist Jesse Koreck, the $2 coin’s reverse is double dated (“1921 2021”) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of a Canadian medical innovation. The discovery of insulin at a University of Toronto laboratory is represented by a maple leaf and traditional symbols: an early insulin vial, an Erlenmeyer flask, a mortar and pestle. The inner core shows insulin in monomeric form, which is highlighted in blue on these coloured coins, while the depiction of the hormone at work in the bloodstream extends onto the outer ring. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.