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RCM unveils the most extensive circulation coin program in support of
the Olympic and Paralympic Games ever conceived by a Mint
from any country
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OTTAWA, Jan. 26 /CNW Telbec/ - With pride and excitement, the Royal
Canadian Mint (RCM) today unveiled its three year program of circulation and
collector coins in honour of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter
Games. The Canadian coin program is the most extensive circulation program in
relation to the Olympic and Paralympic Games ever conceived by any mint
worldwide. As an Official Supporter of the 2010 Winter Games the RCM will also
produce the athlete medals for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Over the next three years, the Royal Canadian Mint will put into
circulation 17 coins featuring designs related to the 2010 Winter Games.
Canadians from coast to coast can share in the pride and touch the Games by
collecting and saving these special Canadian coins. Up to 350 million coins
will go into circulation over the next three years.
Twelve 25-cent coins will depict ten Olympic winter sports and two
Paralympic winter sports. The RCM is proud to be the first Mint to commemorate
the Paralympic Games through the issuing of two circulation coins.
Three additional 25-cent coins will feature designs of Canadian athlete
medallists with the participation of Canadians, a unique feature of the Mint's
program. Starting in 2008, every Canadian will have the opportunity to vote
for their favourite Canadian medallists. Each coin will have a bronze, silver
or gold finish. The RCM is the first mint to seek broad public participation
in the design for Olympic and Paralympic Games' coins.
Two one-dollar Lucky Loonie coins will also be struck. The first will be
released prior to the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Teams heading to the
Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the second prior to the
2010 Winter Games. RBC will be the exclusive distributor of the Lucky Loonie
coins.
"The Mint's goal is to touch every Canadian with the spirit of the
2010 Winter Games," said the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of
Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Minister responsible for the
Royal Canadian Mint. "The coins unveiled today will be permanent reminders of
the enduring Olympic ideal and of Canada's contribution to that vision in
2010."
The RCM is joining forces with RBC and Petro-Canada to provide quick and
easy access to the coins as they are released. 1,200 RBC participating
locations and participating Petro-Canada outlets will distribute and promote
the circulation coins over the next three years. Canadians can also look for
these special coins in their change. Coins will be released into circulation
at selected intervals. In 2007, the RCM will release five 25-cent circulation
coins: Curling (February ), Ice Hockey (April), Paralympic Winter Games -
Wheelchair Curling (July), Biathlon (September) and Alpine Skiing (October).
The first coin will begin circulating on February 23, 2007.
Additionally, for enthusiasts and serious collectors in Canada and
abroad, the RCM will introduce a series of 36 unique and superbly crafted
collector coins ranging from multi-coloured sterling silver Lucky Loonies to
premium gold coins. Starting on February 23, 2007, Canadians can purchase
coins through the RCM's website at www.mint.ca by calling 1-800-267-1871 or
through authorized dealers.
The program includes a series of 15 $25 Sterling silver coins featuring
winter sports and thematic designs. Each will have a limited world-wide
mintage of 45,000.
A series of nine $75 14 Karat gold coins highlighting distinctly Canadian
culture and wildlife and Olympic Games themes are also included in the
collection. Each will have a limited world-wide mintage of 8,000.
Two $2500 Kilo Gold Coins will be available. Marking the first time the
RCM has issued a pure gold coin with a guaranteed weight of one kilogram,
these coins are spectacularly engraved in ultra high relief. Only 20 of each
will be produced. Also an RCM first, two $250 Kilo Silver coins will be
offered with a limited worldwide mintage of 2,500 per coin.
Also offered will be three $300 Premium Gold coins (one released in each
of 2007, 2008 and 2009) with a limited mintage of 2,500 per coin as well as
three special edition uncirculated coin sets, each with a mintage of 30,000
containing all denominations, including the 2010 Winter Games-related 25-cent
coins of that year. And, two Sterling silver Lucky Loonie painted coins will
be issued in 2008 and 2010, with mintages of 30,000 and 40,000 respectively.
For gift givers, the RCM will offer a unique collector card containing
all 14 circulation coins. And, a total of 12 Olympic Coin Sport Cards will be
launched over the next three years with the 2007 circulation coins bearing a
painted maple leaf. The sports cards will sell for $7.95 and will be released
at the same time as the circulation coins they feature. Consumers will be able
to purchase these cards at participating Petro Canada outlets. Three
additional Sport Coin Cards are planned to coincide with the selection and
launch of the 25-cent Canadian Medallist coins. To build on the tradition, the
RCM will be launching a Lucky Loonie embedded in a hockey puck to be launched
in 2009.
Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the RCM noted the importance of
supporting and complementing the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. "The RCM shares
VANOC's mission: 'To touch the soul of the nation and inspire the world by
creating and delivering an extraordinary Olympic and Paralympic experience
with lasting legacies.' Collecting, saving and giving individual coins and
gifts is a wonderful way for Canadians to connect with the Games and to hold
onto a lasting reminder of what is sure to be a very special time in our
history," Bennett said.
"These Olympic and Paralympic coins are a fun way to get all Canadians
excited about the Games. As we get closer to 2010, Canadians can take pride in
our athletes and winter sports just by purchasing these collector coins," said
James Moore, Member of Parliament for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam and
Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler
Olympics. "Thanks to the Royal Canadian Mint, every Canadian will have a
chance to collect a part of the Games."

Background

In June, 2006, the Royal Canadian Mint became an Official Supporter of
the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with the signing of an
agreement with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).
The seven-year agreement provides the RCM with rights for the 2010
Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in the Minting of Circulation, Precious
Metal and Base Metal Numismatic and Bullion Coins product and service
category, and includes rights for the Canadian Olympic Team for the Beijing
2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Games. RCM's commitment is valued at
$15 million, which includes $2 million towards goods and services and is
expected to generate $100 M in revenues as well as provide all Canadians
access to the Winter Olympic Games through this extensive program.

Images and product details of the RCM's newest collection are available
by visiting ftp://communications:RCM2007@ftp.mint.ca.


Backgrounder

Royal Canadian Mint's tradition of involvement with the Olympic Games

While the circulation coin program undertaken by the Royal Canadian Mint
to commemorate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is the
most extensive such program offered by any Mint, it's certainly not the first
time the RCM has been involved with the Olympic Games.
Since the first Olympic Games hosted by a Canadian city - Montreal in
1976 - the Royal Canadian Mint has been proud to issue circulation and
collectible coins reflecting the ideals and the excitement of the world's
premiere sport event.
For the XXI Olympiad in Montreal, the Mint released a series of
twenty- eight $5 and $10 silver coins. Two $100 gold coins, one of 14kt and
one of 22kt were also produced depicting different sports, venues and Olympic
themes. Mintages were 650,000 and 350,000, respectively.
The Calgary 1988 Winter Olympic Games saw the RCM issue ten $20 sterling
silver coins featuring different sports, each with a total mintage of
5 million or approximately 500,000 per coin. As well, the RCM produced one
14kt $100 coin (145,175 minted).
To mark the centennial of the modern Olympic movement in 1996, the RCM
was the first of five Mints (along with those of Austria, Australia, France
and Greece) selected to produce limited edition coins. In 1992, the RCM issued
one $175 gold coin (22,092 minted) and two $15 silver coins (105,645 minted)
commemorating this special anniversary.
In what is now a legendary tale, a one-dollar coin was embedded in the
ice at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City prior to Canada's gold
medal-winning performances in both men's and women's hockey. To cheer on
Canadian athletes participating in the Athens 2004 Olympic and Paralympic
Summer Games, the RCM launched the Lucky Loonie one-dollar circulation coin.
Over 6.5 million coins were put into circulation. A 2004 sterling silver
one- dollar Lucky Loonie coin was also produced with a mintage of 20,000. The
Lucky Loonie was the first Canadian circulation coin produced to mark an
Olympic Games.
Based on the popularity of the 2004 Lucky Loonie, a second version was
launched for the Torino Winter Games in 2006. 10 million coins were put into
circulation and a series of Lucky Loonie collectibles was also produced
including the 2006 sterling silver one-dollar Lucky Loonie coin, with a
mintage of 20,000.

What, no spy coins?