400th Anniversary of Quebec City, 200th Anniversary of Fraser River Descent lead first numismatic offering of the Mint’s centennial year

Ottawa, Ontario – January 9, 2008 – One week after turning 100 years old, the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) today released the first new collector coins and gift products of 2008. In keeping with its mandate of celebrating Canada’s values, history and culture, the RCM has chosen to devote the silver dollar, in proof, brilliant uncirculated and selectively gold plated finishes, to Samuel de Champlain, as a tribute to the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City. This figurehead of the RCM’s annual collector coin program is followed by the perennial $100, $200 and $300 face value gold issues featuring themes which resonate from Canada’s East to West coasts, as well as the traditionally anticipated proof, uncirculated and specimen coin sets. The popular annual coin sets featuring a unique painted 25-cent coin are once more available in five different themes, as are annual baby and wedding gift sets.

“Over 100 years, the Royal Canadian Mint has established a global reputation as a leader in the minting industry”, said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “The quality and creativity which are hallmarks of the Royal Canadian Mint shine through in the first new collector coins of 2008. The themes they portray will resonate with Canadian and international collectors alike”. (more…)

OTTAWA, ONTARIO / WINNIPEG, MANITOBA – January 2, 2008 – One hundred years ago today, Governor General Earl Grey activated the press to strike a fifty-cent piece, Canada’s first domestically produced coin. What would become known as the Royal Canadian Mint was officially open for business.

“To celebrate the centennial of the Mint is to celebrate the history of Canada,” said Mr. Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “Over the past century, the Mint has played an important role in the economic and social fabric of our nation, by creating circulation and commemorative collector coins which are a true testament to Canada’s rich heritage and values.”

The Mint’s Ottawa facility, which occupies the same premises on which the Mint was founded, produces hand-crafted collector and commemorative coins, gold bullion coins, medals and medallions. Established in 1976, the Winnipeg Mint is a high-tech, high-volume manufacturing facility where Canada’s circulation coinage is produced, as well as coins for countries around the world. (more…)

OTTAWA, Dec. 13 / – The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) is crediting its patented multi-ply plating technology for a record year in its foreign circulation business line. The Mint’s Winnipeg, Manitoba facility has already set a new production volume record with one month left to go in 2007, having struck almost 1.2 billion multi-ply plated circulation coins for countries from around the globe.

“In an age of rising base metal costs, there is a compelling need around the world for a coinage solution which saves money without compromising quality,” said RCM President and CEO, Mr. Ian E. Bennett. “Only the Royal Canadian Mint can offer a solution to meet this need, which has led us to become one of the most innovative in the world.”

Among the countries which have recently adopted the Royal Canadian Mint’s multi-ply plating are Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Ghana, Oman, Paraguay, Barbados and the Bahamas. As well, RCM multi-ply plating is generating strong interest among other countries in the Caribbean region. (more…)