If you get the world’s first glow-in-the-dark coin in your change, can you keep one for Timothy Hsia? It’s kind of important to him.
The glow-in-the-dark toonie – one of a set minted specially to mark Canada’s 150th birthday - was released into circulation in March.
But such is the coin’s popularity, its designer, Richmond born and raised Dr. Timothy Hsia, has yet to come across one in general use.
And with the country’s big birthday bash just a few days away, Hsia has had to avail himself of the special coin – which depicts two paddlers awestruck by the Northern Lights – by buying as part of a special coin-collecting set.
“It’s kind of funny that I actually haven’t seen it yet out there; friends and family across the country have though and have been sending me pictures of it,” said coin-collecting Hsia, whose winning design, called “Dance of the Spirits” was chosen last year (first by a panel and then via a public vote) from thousands of entries into the Royal Canadian Mint’s 150th birthday competition.
“I think people are hoarding it; they’re not likely going to use it for parking.”
As well as having a regular toonie boasting Hsia’s design, the two-tone glow-in-the-dark version has broken new ground for coins across the globe, with the Northern Lights twinkling when the room goes dark.
Hsia, who credited his fellow finalist brother Stephen for his part in the winning creation, said he had no idea the Mint was going to make a glow-in-the-dark version of the coin.
“I totally didn’t expect the glow-in-the-dark thing, but it was a pleasant surprise,” he said.
“And I think it captures the natural beauty that’s in our own backyard.”
The brothers went to Ottawa in May, as part of the winning prize, to tour the mint.
As for the coin itself, Hsia said people seem to be quite excited when they learn of the origins of the design.
“It’s nice that people are getting excited about Canada’s 150th as well,” added Hsia, who has been getting all kinds of media attention recently, including from the BBC and even talk-show host Conan O’Brien, courtesy of a crude joke about it.
“I remember Canada’s first two-dollar coin when I was in Grade 6 and I hope Canadians remember my coin the same way.”
According to the Royal Canadian Mint, three million of the glow-in-the-dark coins are in circulation.
The technology being used, said the Mint, is a “new, high-speed, pad-printed colouring process for circulation coins.”
“These coins were coloured using…a new ink formulation containing luminescent material,” stated the Mint.
“Only the core of the $2 coin is coloured and the glow effect will make the Aurora Borealis part of the design look lifelike.”
The coin will also be available in full sets of the Canada 150 circulation coin collection, which can be purchased from Mint.ca, the Mint’s boutiques and official distributors across Canada.
As part of the winning prize, Hsia will be hosting an official coin exchange on Friday, July 7 from noon to 5 p.m. at Aberdeen Centre, where people can exchange their “old” coins for the new toonies.
He previously dedicated the toonie to his late grandfather, Philip Hsia.
“I kind of got into collecting coins by accident,” explained Timothy last year.
“My grandfather gave myself and my brother a coin and, at the time, it was kind of like getting a coin in a Pirate Pak from White Spot. But our grandfather was our hero and our fascination of coins grew from there.”
