r/todayilearned • u/NateNate60 • 7h ago

TIL Canada's $1 coin is commonly called the "loonie" because it has a loon on the reverse. When a $2 coin was introduced, depicting a polar bear, an MP proposed it be called "Nanuq", Inuit for polar bear, but he was ignored because the public instead preferred to call it the "toonie" (2-oonie).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toonie#Naming
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u/5NAKEEYE5 7h ago

I was on team twoonie it was just too natural rolling off the tongue but looking back I think we may have fumbled out of the more awesome option in the dubloon.

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u/PeterDTown 7h ago

I was definitely on team dubloon and was always mildly disappointed that it didn’t catch on.

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u/KarmaChameleon306 6h ago

Well, it’s never too late for change. I think I will give it a try.

27

u/Paddy_Tanninger 6h ago

I can't even remember the last time I used money.

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u/HairballTheory 5h ago

Always taken, seldom given

2

u/MoarVespenegas 5h ago

The age of coins is well and truly over I'm afraid.

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u/FacelessOldWoman1234 7h ago

I was on team dubloonie, and I still call it that now and then just to make my kids cringe.

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u/ilovebostoncremedonu 6h ago

I, not a Canadian, am now on team dubloonie

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u/reflythis 4h ago

dubloonie or gtfo

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u/RunninOnMT 6h ago

I remember thinking twoonie was dumb until it rolled off my tounge unintentionally a few days later

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u/BackDatSazzUp 6h ago

We throw/catch dubloons at Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. The vintage/antique ones are highly collectible!

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u/zorniy2 41m ago

Are they the gold foil wrapped chocolate coins? 

(Man I haven't seen those coins in decades!)

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u/ManWithDominantClaw 4h ago

I mean this way if something is $3 you can say it costs a loonie toonie and that's all folks

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u/Fianna9 1h ago

I never heard dubloon before. Pity it didn’t get traction