Why a bear on Alaska's state coin?

Answer 1

Alaska's coinage is the same as in the lower 48 states and in Hawaii. Canada is the nation that has a bear on the twoonie coin--a polar bear, to be exact. Why the polar bear was chosen to be on that coin instead of other symbols or animals--like the moose, for instance--was likely because the bear signifies strength as part of the Canadian national anthem, "...strong and free."