2013 Canadian $2 Toonie Value Guide
What is your 2013 Canadian $2 toonie worth? Complete price guide — Polar Bear Business Strike ($2–$154), Black Bear Cubs Specimen ($38–$55), Silver Proof ($38–$50), and the Charlton-listed Doubled Date PL set variety. All values in CAD.
Most 2013 Canadian $2 toonies found in pocket change are worth exactly $2.00 (face value). In pristine MS-67 certified condition, the Polar Bear business strike can reach ~$50–$154. The collector-exclusive Black Bear Cubs Specimen trades for $38–$55, and the 99.99% Fine Silver Proof commands $38–$50 above its melt floor of $26.37 CAD (as of February 27, 2026).
- Circulated Polar Bear (Business Strike):$2.00 (face value)
- Uncirculated Polar Bear (MS60–63):$3.00–$7.00
- Trophy Polar Bear (MS-67, certified):~$50–$154
- Polar Bear Proof-Like (PL64–65, annual Uncirculated set):$23.00–$25.00 per set
- Black Bear Cubs Specimen (SP68, NCLT only):$38.00–$55.00
- Polar Bear Fine Silver Proof (PF69, NCLT only):$38.00–$50.00
Found a shiny toonie? It is almost certainly a Proof-Like coin broken from an Uncirculated set — not a rare high-grade business strike. Is it silver? The only silver 2013 $2 is the NCLT Fine Silver Proof; it weighs exactly 9.00 g, is completely non-magnetic, and has a visible gold-toned inner core. A standard 2013 circulation toonie is Multi-Ply Plated Steel and strongly magnetic. See Black Bear Cubs reverse? You instantly have an NCLT Specimen — never released to circulation under any circumstances. All values in CAD as of February 2026. See full value chart →
The 2013 Canadian $2 toonie is among the most metallurgically and commercially complex single-year issues in modern Canadian numismatics. The Royal Canadian Mint deployed two distinct reverse designs — the iconic Polar Bear by Brent Townsend (struck for circulation and standard annual collector sets) and the limited-edition Black Bear Cubs by Glen Loates (a strictly NCLT collector-only exclusive, fourth in the Baby Animals series) — across four separate manufacturing finishes: Business Strike, Proof-Like (PL), Specimen (SP), and Fine Silver Proof (PF). Circulation mintage dropped sharply to 12,390,000 from 89,185,000 in 2012, and the Royal Canadian Mint's transition to Multi-Ply Plated Steel (MPPS) security technology entered its second full year for this denomination. For values across all production years of the denomination, visit our Canadian Toonie Value Guide.
2013 Canadian $2 Toonie — obverse showing Susanna Blunt's mature, uncrowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and reverse showing Brent Townsend's adult Polar Bear on an ice floe. The Queen's cheekbone and the bear's front shoulder are the primary high-point areas that determine grade.
Note: Errors such as off-center strikes and wrong-planchet coins exist for this denomination and era but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.
2013 Canadian $2 Toonie Composition & Melt Value
The 2013 Canadian $2 toonie is uniquely characterized by three entirely distinct metallurgical formulas deployed across its different finish and product tiers. Each composition carries a different weight, a different electromagnetic signature, and a different intrinsic value profile. Correct identification of composition is an essential first step in authentication and valuation.
The three 2013 $2 toonie compositions side by side with their exact weights: MPPS circulation/PL (6.92 g), Legacy Bimetallic Specimen — Black Bear Cubs (7.30 g), and 99.99% Fine Silver Proof (9.00 g). Weight variance is an immediate authentication diagnostic.
Composition 1 — Multi-Ply Plated Steel (MPPS): Business Strike & Proof-Like
Introduced to the $2 denomination in 2012, the RCM's patented MPPS technology gives the 2013 circulation toonie its defining electromagnetic security signature required by automated vending and coin-sorting machinery. Because the coin is composed almost entirely of abundant base metals — predominantly commercial-grade steel, nickel, copper, and zinc — it carries no precious metal content. Intrinsic melt value is negligible relative to numismatic value.
Composition 2 — Legacy Pre-2012 Bimetallic: Specimen (Black Bear Cubs)
The Black Bear Cubs Specimen reverts to the solid-alloy bimetallic composition used before 2012, adding 0.38 g of mass compared to the MPPS circulation strike. The pure nickel outer ring produces a measurably weaker and more sluggish magnetic response than the MPPS steel-core coin — concentrated on the rim, with zero contribution from the copper-alloy core. This distinct magnetic behaviour provides an immediate, non-destructive way to confirm you are examining a Specimen issue rather than a standard toonie.
Composition 3 — 99.99% Fine Silver with 24k Gold-Plated Core: Proof (NCLT)
Close-up of the 2013 Fine Silver Proof $2 toonie — the 24-karat gold-plated inner core area contrasts visibly with the brilliant white silver outer ring, replicating the two-tone bimetallic aesthetic of the circulation toonie in precious metals. Deep cameo frosting is visible on the raised Polar Bear devices.
Melt Value Calculation (as of February 27, 2026): Using the live silver spot price of $2.93 CAD per gram, sourced from AU Bullion Canada and BullionVault:
- Formula: Weight × Purity × Spot = Melt
- Calculation: 9.00 g × 0.9999 × $2.93 CAD = $26.37 CAD
This melt floor is active and will shift with silver market conditions. When the coin remains in pristine condition within its original RCM acrylic capsule with Certificate of Authenticity, typical numismatic retail value is moderately above this melt threshold. Milk spotting — a common chemical affliction on modern silver mint products — or removal from original packaging can collapse the collector premium, driving the coin toward this intrinsic baseline.
⚠️ Never Clean Your 2013 Toonie
Cleaning a 2013 toonie causes permanent, irreversible damage regardless of composition. On MPPS coins, aggressive chemicals or acidic dips can strip the microscopic outer nickel plating, exposing the reactive inner copper and steel layers. On Silver Proof and Specimen coins, even a high-quality microfiber polishing cloth will deposit thousands of microscopic hairlines across mirror fields or frosted devices, instantly obliterating the cameo effect. A cleaned, dipped, or mechanically altered coin is graded "Details" (damaged) by all major services and permanently forfeits its numismatic premium, reverting to face or melt value.
2013 Canadian $2 Toonie Value Chart by Grade, Design & Finish
The 2013 toonie market is strictly segmented by reverse design, finish, and grade tier. Identifying your finish before consulting pricing is essential — a Specimen coin and a high-grade business strike can appear superficially similar to the untrained eye. All values in CAD as of February 2026.
Four finishes of the 2013 Canadian $2 toonie side by side: Business Strike (conventional wagon-wheel luster, bag marks typical), Proof-Like (brilliant semi-reflective fields, no bag marks), Specimen (matte parallel-lined fields, frosted raised devices), and Fine Silver Proof (deep liquid-mirror fields, heavy white frosted cameo). These finishes are priced on entirely different scales. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
2013 Canadian $2 Toonie — Polar Bear Business Strike (Circulation)
The standard MPPS circulation strike features Brent Townsend's Polar Bear reverse and conventional wagon-wheel luster. With a mintage of 12,390,000 — dramatically lower than the 89,185,000 struck in 2012 — finding a raw uncirculated survivor in bag lots is less common, but the value cliff remains steep. A meaningful premium does not materialize until MS-66; an MS-67 example entirely transcends its base-metal origins. Queen Elizabeth's cheekbone on the obverse and the crest of the Polar Bear's front shoulder on the reverse are the primary friction targets that prevent most examples from reaching the top of the grade scale.
| Design / Type | Circulated (Pocket Change) | BU Typical (MS60–63) | MS65 | MS66 | MS67 (Trophy) | Mintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polar Bear — Business Strike (MPPS, 6.92 g) | $2.00 (Face Value) | $3.00–$7.00 | — | — | ~$50–$154 | 12,390,000 |
MS65 and MS66 individual price points not specified in source data; shown as — rather than estimated. MS67 value sourced from grading registry retail tracking data (2025–2026). ICCS MS-66 certifications may command a slight local premium over equivalent PCGS grades in the domestic Canadian market due to established collector perception.
Grade comparison for the 2013 Polar Bear toonie: circulated (left — heavy bag marks, rim wear, friction on cheekbone and bear's shoulder), MS-63 uncirculated (centre — bright luster with scattered contact marks), and trophy-grade MS-67 (right — virtually mark-free fields, razor-sharp central strike). The Queen's cheekbone and Polar Bear's front shoulder are the critical diagnostic areas. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
ℹ️ The Value Cliff — Why MS60–63 Carries Only a Nominal Premium
A generic MS-60 to MS-63 business strike carries only a modest premium ($3–$7) because the market is fully saturated by pristine-looking Proof-Like set coins. Dealers often discount raw "BU" examples from this era assuming PL set origin. The true value cliff does not materialize until MS-66, where the coin is nearly devoid of the heavy mechanical bag marks characteristic of the Winnipeg facility's mass-production pipeline. At MS-67, population scarcity — not metal content — drives the market.
2013 Canadian $2 Toonie — Polar Bear Proof-Like (Annual Uncirculated Sets)
The Proof-Like Polar Bear $2 is included exclusively in the Royal Canadian Mint's annual Uncirculated collector sets. These coins were struck at significantly slower speeds and higher tonnages than circulation strikes, then sealed directly into protective pliofilm packaging, yielding brilliant semi-reflective fields and exceptionally sharp device definition. The maximum production limit for the annual Uncirculated sets was 75,000 units. Note that the Charlton-listed Doubled Date hub doubling varieties (Type 2 and Type 3) elevate entire set values above the standard baseline — see the Notable Variants section for full diagnostic details.
| Design / Finish | Circulated | Collector Grade (PL64–65) | Mintage (Max Set Limit) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polar Bear — Proof-Like (PL), from Annual Uncirculated Sets (MPPS, 6.92 g) | N/A — Sets only | $23.00–$25.00 per set | 75,000 | Standard set value. Doubled Date (Type 2) set: ~$40. Doubled Date + Doubled Loonie (Type 3) set: ~$50. Pricing assumes original sealed pliofilm packaging. |
⚠️ Pliofilm Storage Risk
Proof-Like coins from the 2013 annual Uncirculated sets are sealed in pliofilm packaging. Over decades, certain older plasticized materials can degrade and release compounds that attack coin surfaces. If you observe any haze, residue, or surface change on a coin stored in original pliofilm, consult a professional conservator before attempting any cleaning. Do not use nail polish remover — use only pure acetone if conservation is needed, and only after professional assessment.
ℹ️ PL Set Contamination
With up to 75,000 Uncirculated sets produced, many have been broken open and individual $2 coins sold loose. A shiny, mark-free 2013 toonie found outside its original packaging is almost certainly a PL set coin — not a rare high-grade business strike. Dealers routinely discount raw "uncirculated" coins of this type, assuming PL set origin, which depresses the lower end of the BU market.
2013 Canadian $2 Toonie — Polar Bear Fine Silver Proof (NCLT)
The only silver $2 coin issued in 2013, included exclusively in the Royal Canadian Mint's Fine Silver Proof Set — 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Arctic Expedition. Struck from a solid 99.99% pure silver planchet (9.00 g) with selective 24-karat gold plating on the inner core area, replicating the bimetallic appearance of the circulation toonie in precious metals. Maximum mintage was strictly capped at 25,000 sets. Pricing assumes the coin remains in its original RCM acrylic capsule with its serialized Certificate of Authenticity and presentation packaging intact. The calculated melt floor as of February 27, 2026 is $26.37 CAD.
| Design / Finish | Circulated | Collector Grade (PF69) | Trophy (PR-70 DC, estimated) | Mintage (Max) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polar Bear — Fine Silver Proof (99.99% Ag, 24k Au-plated core, 9.00 g) | N/A — NCLT only | $38.00–$50.00 | ~$100+ (estimated baseline) | 25,000 | Melt floor: $26.37 CAD. Milk spotting collapses premium toward melt. PR-70 DC figure is an estimated baseline per numismatic trend analysis (2026), not a specific recorded auction realization. Retail sourced from CDN Coin, Monnaie JD Coins, and London Coin Centre. |
See the official RCM archival listing for the Fine Silver Proof Set for original issue details.
2013 Canadian $2 Toonie — Black Bear Cubs Specimen (NCLT)
The Black Bear Cubs Specimen $2, the fourth entry in the Royal Canadian Mint's Baby Animals series, was designed by Glen Loates and was never released into commercial circulation under any circumstances. It is exclusively found within the Special Edition Specimen Set. Struck on the legacy pre-2012 bimetallic composition (7.30 g), it is immediately distinguishable from all other 2013 $2 coins by its reverse design and its heavier weight. With a maximum mintage of just 17,500 sets worldwide, it is the lowest-mintage 2013 $2 product. Its premium is heavily reliant on the coin remaining in its original RCM presentation packaging with COA; separation from packaging causes severe devaluation.
| Design / Finish | Circulated | Collector Grade (SP68) | Mintage (Max) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bear Cubs — Specimen (Legacy Bimetallic: >99% Ni ring / 92% Cu–6% Al–2% Ni core, 7.30 g) | N/A — NCLT only | $38.00–$55.00 | 17,500 | Lowest-mintage 2013 $2 product. Premium requires original RCM case and COA. Retail sourced from CDN Coin, Coins Unlimited, and the RCM official archive. |
Values in CAD represent typical market prices as of February 2026. The Canadian numismatic market evaluates CLT (Circulating Legal Tender) and NCLT (Non-Circulating Legal Tender) coins in entirely separate pricing spheres, as codified by the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins. For complete denomination values across all years, see our Canadian Toonie Value Guide.
Most Valuable 2013 Canadian $2 Toonie Varieties
A. Trophy-Level Examples — Condition Census
The 2013 toonie's trophy tier is defined almost entirely by condition rarity rather than die variety rarity. Because multi-ply plated steel planchets sustain severe kinetic damage during automated ejection and bagging at the Winnipeg facility, and because the immense striking pressure required to lock the bimetallic core frequently causes localized strike weakness at the highest design points, pristine high-grade survivors are genuine statistical outliers.
| What | Why It Commands a Premium | Grade Required | Typical High-End Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Polar Bear Business Strike — Condition Census | Extreme population scarcity at the top of the grade scale. Heavy MPPS planchets develop severe bag marks during automated ejection and binning. Queen Elizabeth's cheekbone and the Polar Bear's front shoulder are the primary targets for strike weakness and kinetic friction. Flawless, mark-free examples surviving the full production and distribution pipeline are monumental rarities. | MS-67 (PCGS / ICCS) | ~$50–$154 |
| 2013 Polar Bear Fine Silver Proof — Perfect Preservation | Fragile deep cameo contrast and mirror fields on the 9.00 g silver planchet are highly susceptible to atmospheric milk spotting and internal capsule friction. A PR-70 DC example represents absolute, uncompromised preservation under certified conditions — the apex of a naturally milk-spot-prone modern silver product. | PR-70 DC (PCGS) | ~$100+ (estimated baseline) |
MS-67 value sourced from grading registry and retail tracking data (2025–2026). PR-70 DC figure is an estimated baseline per numismatic trend analysis (2026) and is not a specific, verifiable auction realization. ICCS-certified MS-66 grades traditionally command a slight local premium over equivalent numerical grades from American services in the domestic Canadian market.
B. Findable Die Varieties — Charlton-Listed Doubled Date (PL Sets Only)
The 2013 annual Uncirculated (Proof-Like) collector sets contain a formally catalogued Class IV Offset Hub Doubling variety recognized by the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins. This is a systemic die-production anomaly — not a random isolated mechanical error — affecting a specific, finite number of working dies used exclusively to strike the PL sets. During hubbing, lateral misalignment under immense single-press pressure produced a uniformly shifted secondary impression on certain design elements. The doubling on the $2 coin is most prominent on the obverse date ("2013").
Diagnostic close-up comparison: standard 2013 $2 PL date (left, crisp single impression) versus the Charlton-listed Doubled Date variety (right, clear secondary shifted impression visible on the "2013" numerals — most prominent on the "2" and "3"). Examine under 10× magnification on the obverse. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
Because these sets were sold directly to the general public, a significant number of undiscovered examples may remain in original, unopened packaging in private hands.
| Variety / Set Type | Charlton Status | How to Identify (Under Magnification) | Why It's Rarer | Premium Impact on Full Set Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doubled Date $2 — Type 2 PL Set | Charlton Listed (PL Sets) | Examine the obverse date "2013" under 10× magnification: a clear, secondary, uniformly shifted impression of the numerals is visible. Standard die shows a clean, single-impression date. | Direct result of Class IV Offset Hub Doubling affecting a finite number of PL set working dies. | Elevates full set value from ~$24 to ~$40 |
| Doubled Date $2 & Doubled "CANADA DOLLAR" $1 — Type 3 PL Set | Charlton Listed (PL Sets) | The $2 obverse date is doubled (as above), and the accompanying $1 coin in the same set shows doubling of the words "CANADA" and "DOLLAR" on its reverse. | Requires the statistically improbable pairing of two separate doubled-die coins within a single sealed Uncirculated set package. | Elevates full set value from ~$24 to ~$50 |
Variety data and set premium values sourced from Coin World — 2013 Canadian Coins Feature Doubled Dies (September 2013) and the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins. A retail listing of the Type 2 set is available at Colonial Acres for reference pricing.
Major mint errors can command substantial premiums but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.
2013 Canadian $2 Toonie Identification Guide
The 2013 toonie's three compositions and four finishes demand a systematic identification workflow before consulting any pricing. A misidentification between the 6.92 g MPPS business strike and the 9.00 g Silver Proof, or between a PL set coin and a Specimen, will produce a profound valuation error. Execute the following checklist in order.
30-Second Numismatic Forensics Checklist
- Monarch Check: Confirm the obverse portrait is Queen Elizabeth II in the Susanna Blunt Fourth Portrait — mature, uncrowned, right-facing profile. This portrait has been used on Canadian coins since 2003. If the portrait features a tiara, the coin predates 2003 and is not a 2013 issue. The obverse inscription reads ELIZABETH II D G REGINA.
- Reverse Design Check — Instant Identifier:
- Polar Bear (adult bear standing on an ice floe in summer) → Business Strike, Proof-Like, or Silver Proof. Proceed to steps 3–6 to differentiate.
- Black Bear Cubs (two young bears playing on a fallen forest log) → You instantly have a restricted NCLT Specimen coin. Never released to commercial circulation under any circumstances. Value: $38–$55 in SP68.
- Edge Check: Standard 2013 toonies feature interrupted serrations — alternating smooth and serrated sections — interspersed with precise edge lettering. This is a critical MPPS security feature implemented in 2012.
- Weight Test — Definitive Composition Identification: Using a calibrated digital jeweler's scale:
- 6.92 g → MPPS Business Strike or Proof-Like coin
- 7.30 g → Black Bear Cubs Specimen (legacy bimetallic composition)
- 9.00 g → Fine Silver Proof NCLT
- Any significant variance from these calibrated figures is a serious counterfeiting red flag.
- Magnet Test — Authentication Diagnostic: (See detailed guide below)
- Finish Identification: (See detailed guide below)
- Variety Check (PL Sets Only): If you have a sealed 2013 annual Uncirculated set, examine the $2 obverse date under 10× magnification. A clear, uniformly shifted secondary impression of the "2013" numerals identifies the Charlton-listed Type 2 Doubled Date set (value ~$40). If the accompanying $1 coin also shows doubling on "CANADA DOLLAR," you have the rarer Type 3 set (value ~$50).
Magnet Test — Composition Diagnostics for the 2013 Toonie
Magnet test for the three 2013 $2 toonie compositions: MPPS Business Strike/PL (left) clings aggressively to a neodymium magnet — this is normal and expected for the steel-core MPPS coin; Black Bear Cubs Specimen (centre) shows a weak, sluggish rim-only attraction from the pure nickel outer ring — the copper-alloy core is non-magnetic; Silver Proof (right) exhibits zero attraction — pure silver and gold are diamagnetic. Always confirm with the weight test as a secondary check. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
- MPPS Business Strike / PL — Strongly magnetic: The coin clings aggressively and immediately to a neodymium magnet. This is completely normal and expected. The steel core provides the intentional electromagnetic security signature required by automated vending and sorting machines. Strong magnetism on a standard-looking 2013 toonie is confirmation of the MPPS composition.
- Specimen Black Bear Cubs — Weakly magnetic, rim only: Apply a strong magnet. The >99% pure nickel outer ring will exhibit a measurably weaker, somewhat sluggish pull concentrated on the rim of the coin. The copper-aluminum-nickel inner core contributes zero magnetic response. This noticeably weaker, rim-focused attraction is the immediate diagnostic for the Specimen issue.
- Silver Proof — Completely non-magnetic: Pure silver and 24-karat gold are diamagnetic materials. The coin exhibits absolutely zero attraction to a magnet. If a coin presented as a 2013 Silver Proof shows any magnetic pull at all, it is a counterfeit. Always confirm with the 9.00 g weight test as a secondary check, since sophisticated counterfeiters may use varying alloys to approximate correct weights.
Finish Identification Guide
The 2013 Black Bear Cubs reverse by Glen Loates — two young black bears playing on a fallen forest log, rendered in the Royal Canadian Mint's exclusive Specimen finish. Matte, parallel-lined fields contrast with frosted and brilliant raised device relief. This reverse design appears only on the NCLT Special Edition Specimen Set and instantly identifies a collector coin, never a circulation strike.
- Business Strike: Standard wagon-wheel (cartwheel) luster — radiating reflected light as the coin is tilted under a single light source. Nearly all examples will show microscopic bag marks and occasional surface friction from automated ejection and binning at the Winnipeg facility. The coin looks typically "shiny" but not mirror-like.
- Proof-Like (PL): Brilliant, semi-reflective fields with razor-sharp device definition and no heavy bag marks. The fields approach mirror quality without reaching true deep-cameo contrast. These were struck at higher tonnages and slower speeds than circulation coins, then sealed directly into pliofilm — never subjected to bagging. A coin with this appearance found loose in a collection was almost certainly broken from a PL set.
- Specimen (SP): The background fields are entirely matte and display finely engraved, perfectly parallel lines — a finish unique to the Royal Canadian Mint. The raised devices (Black Bear Cubs, Queen's portrait) show a distinctive combination of brilliant and frosted relief against these matte fields, creating a dramatic visual contrast that is unmistakable once seen.
- Proof (PF): Deep, liquid mirror-polished fields that appear almost black when viewed from certain angles. The raised devices are heavily acid-etched to produce a thick, snow-white frosted cameo that contrasts dramatically against the mirror background. These coins are normally encapsulated in hard RCM acrylic capsules and accompanied by velvet or leather presentation cases.
2013 Canadian $2 Toonie Value FAQs
What is a 2013 Canadian $2 toonie worth?
Value depends entirely on design, finish, and grade. A circulated Polar Bear business strike is worth face value ($2.00). A typical uncirculated business strike (MS60–63) brings $3.00–$7.00. The annual Uncirculated set featuring the Proof-Like $2 trades for $23.00–$25.00 per set (or up to ~$40–$50 for the Charlton-listed Doubled Date varieties). The Black Bear Cubs Specimen (NCLT) trades for $38.00–$55.00. The Fine Silver Proof (NCLT) commands $38.00–$50.00 above a melt floor of $26.37 CAD. A trophy-grade MS-67 business strike can reach ~$50–$154. All values in CAD as of February 2026.
Is the 2013 Canadian $2 toonie rare?
Standard Polar Bear business strikes had a circulation mintage of 12,390,000 — meaningfully lower than 2012 but still a substantial production run. The coin is common in circulation. Finding a pristine, certified MS-67 survivor is genuinely rare given the brutal automated bagging process. Collector products are structurally scarcer: the Silver Proof is capped at 25,000; the Black Bear Cubs Specimen at just 17,500 — the lowest-mintage 2013 $2 product. The Charlton-listed Doubled Date PL set varieties (Type 2 and Type 3) add a findable rarity tier within the standard annual Uncirculated sets.
Is my 2013 Canadian $2 toonie silver?
Standard 2013 circulation and Proof-Like set toonies are not silver. They are Multi-Ply Plated Steel (MPPS) base metal with no precious metal content — intrinsic melt value is negligible. The Black Bear Cubs Specimen is also base metal (nickel and copper alloy). The only 2013 $2 coin containing silver is the NCLT Fine Silver Proof from the Arctic Expedition anniversary set — a solid 99.99% pure silver planchet weighing 9.00 g with a 24-karat gold-plated inner core. It is completely non-magnetic and weighs 9.00 g versus the 6.92 g of a standard circulation toonie. If your coin clings to a magnet at all, it is definitively base metal, not silver.
What makes a 2013 Canadian $2 toonie valuable beyond face value?
Three documented split points drive value above face level: (1) Condition rarity: A flawless MS-66 or MS-67 business strike certified by PCGS or ICCS commands a premium driven entirely by population scarcity — the Queen's cheekbone and Polar Bear's shoulder must be virtually mark-free. (2) NCLT status: The Black Bear Cubs Specimen (17,500 mintage) and Silver Proof (25,000 mintage) carry inherent structural rarity from their capped mintages and specialized manufacturing — especially when intact in original RCM packaging with COA. (3) Charlton-listed die variety: The Doubled Date (Type 2) and Doubled Date + Doubled Loonie (Type 3) PL sets elevate entire set values from ~$24 to ~$40 or ~$50 respectively, and may sit undiscovered in original sealed packaging.
What is the difference between Proof-Like (PL) and Specimen (SP) on the 2013 toonie?
These are two completely distinct manufacturing finishes produced on different equipment, from different compositions, and featuring different reverse designs. The Proof-Like (PL) Polar Bear coin has brilliant, semi-reflective fields and sharp device definition — struck at high tonnage and placed directly into pliofilm; it is composed of MPPS (6.92 g) and graded on the PL scale. The Specimen (SP) Black Bear Cubs coin has matte, precisely parallel-lined background fields that contrast with frosted and brilliant raised devices — a proprietary RCM finish; it is composed of legacy bimetallic alloy (7.30 g) and graded on the SP scale. They are valued in entirely different markets: $23–$25 per PL set versus $38–$55 for the SP coin.
What is the Doubled Date variety and how do I find it?
The Doubled Date is a Charlton-listed Class IV Offset Hub Doubling affecting specific working dies used to strike the 2013 annual Uncirculated (PL) sets. To check: open a sealed 2013 annual Uncirculated set and examine the $2 obverse date under 10× magnification. A clear, uniformly shifted secondary impression of the "2013" numerals = Type 2 set (full set value ~$40). If the accompanying $1 coin in the same package also shows doubling on "CANADA" and "DOLLAR," you have the rarer Type 3 set (full set value ~$50). Because these sets were publicly sold, many examples may remain unopened. For more detail, see the Coin World variety analysis (September 2013).
Should I get my 2013 Canadian $2 toonie graded?
Grading economics must be weighed carefully. Third-party certification by ICCS, PCGS, or NGC carries submission fees that typically range from $30 to $60+ CAD per coin. For most 2013 business strikes (worth $2–$7 in MS60–63), grading costs vastly exceed any premium gained. Grading makes financial sense only if you genuinely believe the coin reaches MS-66 or MS-67, where the certified market premium justifies the fee. For NCLT issues — particularly the Fine Silver Proof — PCGS or NGC slabbing can significantly improve resale liquidity and protect fragile silver surfaces from milk spotting and atmospheric sulfur. Within Canada, ICCS is widely respected and may command a slight local premium over equivalent American-service grades on domestic bimetallic coins; PCGS and NGC dominate the international registry set market.
Does the 2013 NCLT toonie need to stay in its original packaging?
Yes — preserving the original Royal Canadian Mint acrylic capsule, presentation case, and serialized Certificate of Authenticity is critical to maintaining the full numismatic premium of any NCLT issue. A 2013 Black Bear Cubs Specimen or Silver Proof permanently separated from its original packaging typically suffers severe devaluation on the secondary market, often liquidating near its intrinsic value. For the Silver Proof, this means potentially trading near the melt floor of $26.37 CAD rather than the collector premium range of $38–$50.
Methodology & Sources
Values in this guide reflect typical Canadian retail market prices as of February 2026 and are subject to change with silver spot prices and secondary market conditions. This guide covers non-error, standard issue coins only. Primary sources consulted:
- Royal Canadian Mint (mint.ca): Official mintage data, metallurgical compositions, MPPS technology documentation — RCM $2 Toonie page; Black Bear Cubs Specimen Set archive; Fine Silver Proof Set archive
- Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins: Formal cataloguing of CLT vs NCLT distinctions and Doubled Date hub doubling variety classifications — see Charlton Press reference
- Coin World / Varieties Notebook: Class IV Offset Hub Doubling mechanical analysis for the 2013 PL set varieties — 2013 Canadian coins feature doubled dies (September 2013)
- Canadian Numismatic Retailers (2024–2026 data): Retail pricing matrices for NCLT and circulation products — CDN Coin — Silver Proof Set; CDN Coin — Specimen Set; Monnaie JD Coins; Coins Unlimited; London Coin Centre; Colonial Acres (Type 2 PL Set)
- Silver Spot Price Data (February 27, 2026):AU Bullion Canada and BullionVault
- Third-Party Grading Census: PCGS, ICCS, and ANACS retail tracking for high-grade MS-67 examples (2025–2026 data)
Values are typical retail estimates in Canadian Dollars (CAD) and may vary by region, coin condition, and market timing. This guide does not constitute financial advice and covers non-error, non-altered coins in the described grade and finish only. Melt values are calculated from the spot price in effect on the date cited and will change with commodity markets.
A note on images: To help illustrate coin diagnostics and rare varieties — especially complex errors that are difficult to describe in text alone — this guide uses AI-generated images. All written values, diagnostics, and variety attributions have been manually reviewed against the cited sources above. While our editorial team works to ensure every image is accurate and helpful, AI-generated illustrations may occasionally misrepresent fine details. If you spot any discrepancy between an image and its written description, please contact us or leave a comment below — we review all feedback and correct errors promptly. Numismatic knowledge is a community effort, and your input helps us build a more accurate resource for everyone.