WINNIPEG, Manitoba, CANADA, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ - Today the Royal
Canadian Mint together with the Royal Canadian Legion unveiled the world's
first coloured circulation coin. The 25-cent coin features a red poppy, the
symbol that pays homage to the 117,000 brave Canadians that have died while in
the service of the nation.
The red poppy is Canada's flower of remembrance. Each Remembrance Day,
Canadians show their abiding respect for those who have freely given their
lives for the cause of freedom, justice and peace by wearing a poppy. On the
eve of the 2004 Remembrance Day commemorations, the Royal Canadian Mint is
proud to launch a landmark coloured circulation coin that will remind
Canadians in a singular way of our proud role in world history and to honour
those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom.
"The poppy is a hallowed symbol to our members and to all Canadians" Said
Mary Ann Burdett, Dominion President, The Royal Canadian Legion. "As the
guardian of the memory of lost comrades and friends, the Legion has a solemn
responsibility to ensure that the poppy is always used in a dignified manner.
I want to express my deep appreciation to the Royal Canadian Mint for
designing a coin whose unique coloured design will make the 2004 Remembrance
Day commemoration truly special."
"We owe our veterans a debt we can never repay and the Mint is to be
congratulated for having the technical ingenuity to produce a coloured coin,"
said Minister of National Revenue and Minister responsible for the Royal
Canadian Mint, the Honourable John McCallum. "This will serve to remind all
Canadians every day of the importance of supporting the Legion's Poppy and
Remembrance Campaign."
"The Mint felt very strongly about dedicating the world's first coloured
circulation coin to Canada's war veterans," said David C. Dingwall, President
and C.E.O. of the Royal Canadian Mint. "The self sacrifice and courage
symbolized by the poppy is universally understood by all Canadians and it also
epitomizes Canada's pride of place in world history. I want to thank the Royal
Canadian Legion for allowing us to use the poppy image, and to congratulate
our Mint production team for making this world first possible. More
importantly, I hope that the poppy coin will inspire Canadians to support the
Legion's 2004 Poppy and Remembrance Campaign, which helps provide needed
services and support for our veterans."
Beginning on October 21, 2004, the new poppy coin will be available from
Tim Hortons locations across Canada. Tim Hortons, a distinctive Canadian
enterprise, is the Mint's exclusive distribution partner for the poppy coin.
Because coins are produced to meet demand, poppy coins will also be available
at financial institutions in the months following the coin's unveil.
"The Mint has created one of the most unique coins in the world that
features a special symbol that all Canadians can relate to and be proud of,"
said Bill Moir, Executive Vice President, Marketing, for Tim Hortons.
"Canadians have supported Tim Hortons for 40 years and our Veterans and
current members of the Canadian Forces are some of our most loyal customers.
So when the Mint approached Tim Hortons, we knew we had to be a part of this
commemorative launch."
To meet the engineering and design challenges entailed in producing the
world's first- ever coloured circulation coin, the Royal Canadian Mint
perfected a high speed colouring process that will generate 30 million coins.
The process ensures that the colour adheres to the metal and is resistant
against wear from daily use or from exposure to common household products and
detergents. With normal wear and tear, the colour should remain for one to
three years, but can be removed with harsh chemicals or friction. A permanent
poppy has been struck on the coin, which will retain its full value, even if
the red colour has been removed.
In addition to the circulation coin, the Royal Canadian Mint is proud to
announce that it has minted a 2004 Special Edition Proof Silver Dollar The
Poppy. It will feature a finely struck version of the circulation coin design,
encapsulated and presented in a display case lined with flock and protected by
an outer box. It will be sold for $49.95. Earlier this year, the Mint unveiled
a Sterling Silver collector coin to commemorate the D-Day anniversary.
All Royal Canadian Mint products and individual coins are available
directly from the Mint at 1 800 267 1871 in Canada, 1 800 268 6468 in the US,
or on the Internet at http://www.mint.ca/ . The coins are also available at
Canada Post and the Royal Canadian Mint's global network of dealers and
distributors.
The Royal Canadian Mint, an ISO 9001 2000 certified company, is the Crown
Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's
circulation coins. In operation since 1908, the Royal Canadian Mint is
recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world,
offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and
related services on an international scale.
For more information on the Royal Canadian Mint, its products and
services, visit http://www.mint.ca . Photos of the design can be downloaded from the
Royal Canadian Mint web site: http://www.mint.ca/en/news/photo/log.htm, Login: media,
Password: alpha
For more information on the Royal Canadian Legion and the poppy visit
http://www.legion.ca
Backgrounder
THE RED POPPY
CANADA'S FLOWER OF REMEMBRANCE
On October 21, 2004, The Royal Canadian Mint together with The Royal
Canadian Legion unveiled the world's first coloured circulation coin. The
25-cent coin features a red poppy, the symbol that pays homage to Canada's
veterans.
The coin was unveiled at a special ceremony that took place at the Minto
Armory in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In addition to being the location of the Mint's
production facility, the Legion was founded in Winnipeg in 1925 and it is the
city where historic Valour Road is located.
History
The red poppy is Canada's flower of war remembrance. It is a hallowed and
universally recognized symbol that pays homage to the 117,000 gallant
Canadians that have died defending freedom and justice over many generations.
The poppy was launched into the collective Canadian consciousness as a
symbol of our war dead through the immortal poem In Flander's Fields, written
by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian battlefield doctor in World War
One. In haunting words that have echoed down through the years, McCrae,
challenged the living to remember the sacrifice of the dead he saw all around
him as well as the cause for which they gave their lives. By wearing lapel
poppies every year on Remembrance Day - November 11th - Canadians young and
old show their respect for generations of Canadian gallantry and respond to
McCrae's challenge.
The Royal Canadian Legion is Canada's largest veterans service and
support organization, with over 400,000 members. The Legion owns the trademark
to the poppy image, and ensures that it is used in an appropriately solemn and
dignified manner. Approximately two weeks before Remembrance Day each year, it
promotes the National Poppy and Remembrance Campaign during which lapel
poppies are distributed to raise money for needy veterans, ex service members,
and their families. Poppies figure prominently in wreaths and crosses used in
Remembrance Day ceremonies across the country.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the beginning of World War One
and the 60th anniversary of D-Day. The Royal Canadian Mint is proud that the
poppy coin, the world's first coloured circulation coin, will be part of this
year's Remembrance Day commemorations and expresses deep appreciation to The
Royal Canadian Legion for its support in this project.
Design
Designed by the Royal Canadian Mint's Director of Engraving and Master
Engraver, Cosme Saffioti, the coin features a red coloured poppy embedded in
the centre of a Maple Leaf over a banner that reads: "Remember / Souvenir."
The obverse features the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna
Blunt. The coin was conceived as part of the Mint's "Canada Role in World
History" program and was supported by the gracious participation of the Legion
which owns the trademark to the poppy image.
Availability
The Poppy coin is the third in the Royal Canadian Mint's 2004
commemorative circulation coin series. Beginning on October 21, 2004, the new
poppy coin will be available from Tim Hortons locations across Canada. Tim
Hortons, a distinctive Canadian enterprise is the Mint's exclusive
distribution partner for this coin. Because coins are produced to meet demand,
poppy coins will also be available at financial institutions in the months
following the coin's unveil.
Numismatic Products
In addition to the circulation coin, the Royal Canadian Mint has minted a
2004 Special Edition Proof Silver Dollar The Poppy. It features a finely
struck version of the circulation coin design, encapsulated and presented in a
display case lined with flock and protected by an outer box. Earlier this
year, the Mint unveiled a Sterling Silver collector coin to commemorate the
D-Day anniversary. These products are available directly from the Mint by
calling 1-800-267-1871 or by visiting http://www.mint.ca. The coins are also
available at Canada Post and the Royal Canadian Mint global network of dealers
and distributors.
<<
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2004 Special Edition Proof Silver Dollar The Poppy
-----------------------------------------------------
Item number 623154
-----------------------------------------------------
UPC 6-23932-23154-2
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Face value: 1$
-----------------------------------------------------
Mintage: 25,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Finish: Proof 2
-----------------------------------------------------
Composition: Fine Ag
-----------------------------------------------------
Weight (g): 25.175g
-----------------------------------------------------
Diameter (mm): 36.07mm
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Thickness (mm): 3.02mm
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Edge: Serrated
-----------------------------------------------------
Artist: Cosme Saffioti
-----------------------------------------------------
Certificate Serialized
-----------------------------------------------------
>>
The Royal Canadian Mint, an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is the Crown
Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's
circulation coins. In operation since 1908, the Royal Canadian Mint is
recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world,
offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and
related services on an international scale. For more information on the Royal
Canadian Mint, its products and services, visit http://www.mint.ca .
For more information on The Royal Canadian Legion and the poppy visit
http://www.legion.ca
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SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint
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Photo Notes:NewscCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041021/MO220 AP
PhotoExpress Network : PRN14 PRN Photo Desk,
888-776-6555 or 212-782-2840
CONTACT:
Pam Aung Thin, Vice-President Communications,
(613) 993-5092, (613) 991-5342, Cellular: (613) 220-5096,
aungthin@mint.ca; Archived images on this organization are
available through CNW E-Pix at ttp://www.newswire.ca. Images are
free to members of The Canadian Press.
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