La Monnaie 茅met une nouvelle pi猫ce 脿 anneau noir en m茅moire de la reine 脡lisabeth II

The Royal 春色直播 Mint has issued a $2 circulation coin, shown in a handout photo, featuring a black outer ring to honour Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's service to Canada during her historic 70-year reign. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Royal 春色直播 Mint **MANDATORY CREDIT**

The Royal 春色直播 Mint is issuing a new black-ringed toonie to honour Queen Elizabeth II.

The mint says the coin's black outer ring is intended to evoke a "mourning armband" to honour the queen, who died in September after 70 years on the throne.

The mint says it will start to circulate nearly five million of the coins this month, and they will gradually appear as banks restock inventories.

Aside from the black ring, the mint says the coin retains the same design elements of the standard toonie.

Four different images of the queen have graced 春色直播 coins since 1953, when she was crowned.

The core of the commemorative toonie will feature the same portrait of the queen that has been in circulation since 2003, with a polar bear design on the other side.

"Queen Elizabeth II served as Canada's head of state for seven decades and for millions of 春色直播s, she was the only monarch they had ever known," Marie Lemay, president and CEO of the Royal 春色直播 Mint, wrote in a statement.

"Our special $2 circulation coin offers 春色直播s a way to remember her."

The mint says it may produce more of the coins, depending on what it calls "marketplace needs".

This report by 春色直播was first published Dec. 7, 2022.

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