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."

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The surging Canadian dollar known as the loonie struck many headlines throughout 2007 and now it gets at least one more - the selection by Time magazine as the Canadian Newsmaker of 2007.

The loonie started the year at 87 cents US and hit a peak on November at $1.10. Most notable for the loonie, however, was Sept. 20, 2007 when it struck parity with the US dollar for the first time in nearly 31 years.

Imports were cheaper for Canadians due to the rise. However, a large percentage of Canadian exports enter the US, resulting in painful constraints in sectors like manufacturing.

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