The Royal Canadian Mint’s world-famous "Million Dollar Coin" made its Asian debut at Beijing’s Olympic Expo 2008 (Olympex). The unveiling was conducted by The Honourable David Emerson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge and Honorary IOC President for Life Juan Antonio Samaranch.

This unprecedented coin, recently certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest gold bullion coin, represents the international bullion industry’s summit of achievement in gold purity.

The Mint is also participating in Olympex to showcase its Vancouver 2010 coin program, the largest ever produced in honour of an Olympic Games. It will also display specimens of coins minted in celebration of past Olympic Games hosted in Canada, as well as offer unique and innovative collector coins and gifts for sale to visitors to the Mint’s booth.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister responsible for the Royal Canadian Mint, today announced the appointment of Ms. Bonnie Staples-Lyon of Winnipeg as a member of the board of directors of the Royal Canadian Mint for a term of four years.

"I am pleased that Ms. Staples-Lyon has agreed to serve as a director of the Royal Canadian Mint," said Minister Cannon. "Her experience in business and communications will be an asset to the organization."

Read the rest of this entry »

Goldline International, Inc. today announced the acquisition of 1, 700 "first strike" one ounce 2008 Canadian Maple Leaf gold coins designed and minted by the Royal Canadian Mint.

The exceptionally attractive gold coins feature the Canadian national symbol of a maple leaf on the reverse or tails side and a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse or heads side.

Each coin is struck from .99999 fine gold. They are among the purest coins struck in the world, and were first introduced by the Mint in 2007. Gold Maple Leafs were issued prior — starting in 1979 — but not to the 24 karat purity level.

The coin’s denominated (legal tender) face value is $200. However, their gold content alone is worth about $900 in today’s market. There is a premium normally associated with the collectible value for each as well. Their face value, gold content, and purity are guaranteed by the Canadian Government.

Read the rest of this entry »

Ottawa, Ontario – With the Beijing Olympic Games and Beijing Paralympic Games just around the corner, the Royal Canadian Mint is proud to issue the 2008 Lucky Loonie, the latest in its extensive Olympic themed circulation coin program.

The one-dollar coin, which features the familiar loon landing in water and the official emblem of the Canadian Olympic Team, enters into circulation today.

"Canadians from coast to coast can wish our athletes luck by keeping special coins produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, including the 2008 Lucky Loonie," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.

"The Mint has provided each member of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Teams competing in Beijing with a Lucky Loonie as their own personal good luck charm and through the launch of the coin, Canadians also have an opportunity to own a piece of the Olympic dream."

Read the rest of this entry »

The world-record 100-kg, 99.999% pure gold maple leaf bullion coin will be displayed at the 2008 annual convention of the Canadian Numismatic Association

Media representatives and the general public are invited(*) to a one-day showing of the world’s largest, purest and highest denomination gold coin at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ottawa on Saturday, July 19, 2008.

The Royal Canadian Mint will display its 100-kg, 99999 pure Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin with a $1 million face value at its booth located on the floor of the Canadian Numismatic Association’s 2008 Convention.

The Mint will also exchange coins with visitors to its booth, in return for a 2008 $2 circulation coin commemorating the 400th anniversary of Quebec City.

Read the rest of this entry »

Ottawa, Ontario, July 16, 2008 – History and innovative design combine to produce yet another outstanding series of Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) collector coins with the introduction of fine silver rectangular coins emulating a long-lost currency of our past: New France’s playing card money.

The innovation and design creativity continues with a new crystal-embedded fine silver raindrop coin, a new Royal Effigies Series coin featuring King Edward VII, as well as gold and silver coins celebrating yet another Canadian Achievement, the world-famous IMAX film standard, among several others captivating themes.

"As the Royal Canadian Mint celebrates its centennial and as Canada celebrates other historical milestones such as the 400th anniversary of the city of Quebec, we are proud that our collector products are telling the story of Canada in fascinating new forms", said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.

"Our artisans and experts have once again succeeded in creating outstanding treasures in silver and gold which capture the imagination of coin collectors and gift givers everywhere".

The following is an overview of the new products which will be available to the public on July 23, 2008:

Read the rest of this entry »

The Royal Canadian Mint has proudly produced over 20,000 commemorative finisher medals for the upcoming HBC Run for Canada. This event, aimed at supporting Canadian athletes, includes a 10 km run, 3 km walk and 1 km kids run. It will take place in fifteen communities across Canada on July 1st.

"The Mint is delighted to be taking part in this initiative and we encourage Canadians from coast to coast to participate in the HBC Run for Canada on Canada Day", said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.

"Each participant will receive one of these skilfully crafted medals, which will signify their support for Canadian athletes".

For the HBC Run for Canada commemorative finisher medals, which were designed in collaboration with HBC, the Mint cut each blank – which is a medal without a design – from long strips of alloy. A hole was then punched through the blanks, in order to eventually thread the distinctive race ribbons.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Royal Canadian Mint is opening its doors to all on Canada Day to celebrate its centennial with fun-filled family activities. All activities will take place at the Mint’s historic, 100-year-old facility in downtown Ottawa.

Visitors are invited to:

• Learn more about the history of the Royal Canadian Mint by watching a special centennial play, running every hour throughout the day until 5:00 p.m.
• Find out more about the fascinating world of coin production by participating in a free tour of the Mint as well as take some time to browse for great gift ideas and memorabilia in the Mint’s Boutique.
• Exchange coins to receive a 50-cent circulation coin. The 50-cent coin was the first denomination to be produced at the Royal Canadian Mint when it opened on January 2, 1908.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Royal Canadian Mint received a welcome accolade from its peers when the Mint Directors Conference, holding its 25th annual meeting in Busan, Korea, presented it with the Most Technologically Advanced Circulation Coin Award for its 25-cent breast cancer coloured circulation coin.

This is the second honour earned by this inspirational and innovative circulation coin, which was previously recognized in May 2007 as the “Best New Coin” by the International Association of Currency Affairs.

"The Royal Canadian Mint makes a great effort to be the best Mint in the world and it is immensely rewarding when our efforts are validated by our peers," said Ian E. Bennett, RCM President and CEO.

"I welcome this award as the Mint marks its centennial year, and as my fellow employees and I proudly celebrate a century of innovation and achievement."

Read the rest of this entry »

Kitco recently announced a new worldwide program for investors to own gold and silver secured by the Royal Canadian Mint.

The new Kitco Royal Canadian Mint Prestige Account is a collaboration between a leader in precious metals and century old Mint that produces coinage for Canada and 60 plus countries around the world.

The investment program offers investors the option to own unallocated (un-segregated) gold and silver held by Kitco at the Royal Canadian Mint. Shipping costs are eliminated, liquidity is optimized and the costs and hassles of safekeeping precious metals eliminated.

Read the rest of this entry »