As unique as the world’s top athletes and their awe-inspiring performances, every medal won at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be a one-of-a-kind work of art. The medals, revealed today, each feature a different crop of larger contemporary Aboriginal artworks and are undulating rather than flat – both firsts in Games history.

An all-Canadian achievement, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games athlete medals are the product of the Royal Canadian Mint’s close collaboration with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) and metal supplier Teck Resources Limited. Thirty-four Mint engineers, engravers, die technicians, machinists and production experts have combined forces to create an unforgettable series of athlete medals.

The radically undulating face of the medals, evoking the iconic sea and mountains of the Vancouver- Whistler landscape, is the boldest evidence of ground-breaking creative and technical achievement writing a new chapter in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games medals. As powerful tributes to the performances of the Olympic and Paralympic Games athletes who will receive them, the athlete medals establish several milestones:

• at 500 to 576 grams each, they are among the heaviest in Games history;

• with totally unique designs, no two medals are alike; and

• laser etching was used to flawlessly reproduce the unique, West Coast First Nations designs on the undulating surface of the medals.

From its Ottawa facility, the Mint produced all 615 gold, silver and bronze medals for Olympic Winter Games athletes, as well as the 399 athlete medals for Paralympic Winter Games competition. It took one year of planning, innovation and prototype development to finally bring the ambitious design of the athlete medals to life and proceed with the production phase. Thirty steps, representing 2,817 (402 days) hours of precision manufacturing, were taken to produce the medals. This complex process required:
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The Royal Canadian Mint has launched the third and final issue of the world’s first series of bullion coins honouring the spirit of the Olympic Games. The Mint’s Ottawa facility will produce up to 50,000 gold coins for the 2010 issue and the silver version will be produced on demand.

“The Royal Canadian Mint is very proud to produce gold and silver bullion coins which stand out from the competition and capture the attention of the marketplace,” said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “The Mint has been delighted by investor and collector response to the first two issues of its Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Gold and Silver Maple Leaf bullion coins and is looking forward to a repeat success as its newest Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games bullion coins are launched with only months remaining before the excitement of the 2010 Winter Games.”

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin is made of one ounce of 99.99% pure gold and bears a $50 face value. Bearing a $5 face value, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Silver Maple Leaf bullion coin is struck from one ounce of 99.99% pure silver. The reverse of the coins features an ice hockey player in full stride, flanked by two maple leaves. The design is the product of collaboration between the Mint’s Bullion and Refinery and Engraving teams. Both coins are now available through the Mint’s extensive network of bullion dealers. (more…)

Poppy coin bookmark to benefit the Royal Canadian Legion’s Dominion Command Poppy Trust Fund

On the eve of Remembrance Day commemorations and the 90 th anniversary of the Armistice, the Royal Canadian Mint, in association with the Royal Canadian Legion, is proud to issue its latest coloured circulation coin which features the iconic red poppy, Canada’s flower of remembrance.

The Mint will produce up to 11 million 25-cent coloured poppy coins, which will enter into circulation beginning today and will be distributed exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix locations from coast to coast. Canadians are also encouraged to look for this special coin in their change.

“Through this unique circulation coin, the Royal Canadian Mint is keeping alive the memory of all Canadian veterans who served their country with such distinction,” said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “Mint employees are honoured to pay tribute to those who have bravely fought for our freedom, particularly on the eve of such a significant anniversary.”

“The Royal Canadian Legion is extremely pleased that the Royal Canadian Mint has honoured our veterans with the production of this very special poppy coin,” said Mr. Wilfred Edmond, Dominion President of the Royal Canadian Legion.

“Shoppers Drug Mart is honoured to be a part of the circulation of this commemorative coin that recognizes the valour and courage of those Canadians who served in the First World War,” said Tammy Smitham, Director, Communications & Corporate Affairs, Shoppers Drug Mart. “In partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion, our Pharmacist-owned stores will also be a distribution point for poppies during the Remembrance period to raise further awareness and funds for our Veterans.” (more…)