"Double Canada" Toonies

According to media reports, a package from China was intercepted at the Montreal-Mirabel International Airport in early January allegedly containing "metal badges". Upon inspection by Canada Border Services Agency, the package was eventually determined to contain approximately 12,000 counterfeit toonies. In February, another 14,000 fakes were seized from the home and storage unit of the importer, Jean-Francois Généreux from Sorel, Quebec, about 70 kilometres from Montreal. He was later arrested. The fake coins were purchased from the Chinese online retailer, AliBaba, notorious for counterfeit and knock-off products of all kinds, for only 5 cents each. This was the third such package in a month with the previous two having slipped past Canada Customs. Généreux has a lengthy criminal record consisting mostly of fraud, theft and counterfeiting charges. News of this seizure initially broke in July 2023 but the specific variety of the seized coins was not known until November 2023. A small quantity of these coins were discovered in Sault Ste. Marie in May 2023.

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Given the characteristic inscription on the reverse (or polar bear) side of the coins, they have earned the nickname of "Double Canada Toonies". While tens of thousands of these coins may be in circulation, it is not believed that they were created with the intention to pass as legitimate coins. Rather, the creator made at least some effort to distance them from being coins by removing the denomination.

Information about these Double Canada counterfeit toonies is still incomplete and subject to correction and expansion.

Identifying Double Canada Toonies

• One year: 2012.
• The date beneath the Queen's portrait is curved whereas it is straight on legitimate coins.
• Reverse legend reads "CANADA $ CANADA" instead of "CANADA 2 DOLLARS".
• Obverse features a maple leaf above the portrait, inconsistent with legitimate coins of this variety.