OTTAWA, May 9, 2013 /CNW/ - Canadians have countless ways to define
their identity; from proud historical moments to fond memories of
outdoor life. All of these stories are captured on the Mint's latest
offering of finely crafted collector coins which include vivid
portrayals in pure gold, silver and platinum of the pitched ocean
battle between HMS Shannon and USS Chesapeake at the height of the War of 1812, as well as fine silver coins
celebrating the joys of summer of Canada with idyllic scenes of a
fishing family and fun at the cottage. Natural themes are also present,
along with new coins celebrating Canada's rich heritage by
commemorating the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and celebrating the
addition of Asian traditions to Canadian culture. These latest products
can now be ordered from the Mint and will start shipping on May 14,
2013.
"The Royal Canadian Mint is known world-wide for crafting coins which
stand out for their rich designs and exceptional quality and we are
proud to delight our customers with spectacular new pieces of
numismatic art with uniquely Canadian stories to tell," said Ian E.
Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "After
registering record collector coin sales in 2012, we are pleased to
attract new fans in Canada and around the world, and we are committed
to expanding the horizons of our numismatic program to get more of the
world's best coins into the hands of more satisfied customers."
On June 1, 1813, HMS Shannon, commanded by Captain Philip Broke, clashed with USS Chesapeake 40 kilometres east of Boston in a battle which would sway the morale of
Royal Navy grappling with a string of recent losses to U.S. warships.
Captain Broke and his outnumbered crew's determination to restore the
pride and confidence of the Royal Navy brilliantly defeated and
captured USS Chesapeake in one of the bloodiest naval battles of the War of 1812. The epic
scene of the height of battle is dramatically recreated by artist John
Horton on three new coins preserving this turning point in history on
new 5 oz., 99.99% pure gold and silver coins, as well as on a very
limited mintage of 1 oz., 99.95% pure platinum coins.
After 200 years of peace on the North American continent, the mood has
considerably lightened with a pair of fine silver coins celebrating fun
and relaxation on Canada's countless lakes and waterways. The newest
release of the $10 fine silver O Canada series pays tribute to the
great Canadian tradition of cottage living with artist Claudio
D'Angelo's portrayal of dockside swimmers, a Muskoka chair, a canoe and
the classic waterfront cottage. Artist John Mantha captures the
priceless serenity of a father and child fishing from a dock, with the
loyal family dog at their side, on a 99.99% pure silver coin with a $3
face value.
In keeping with its trademark pursuit of innovation, the Mint is also
proud to feature impressive technology on several new coins including a
selectively coloured $10 fine silver Canadian Tiger Swallowtail and a
50-cent silver-plated coin of the same design from a new Butterflies of
Canada series, as well as a selectively gold-plated fine silver kilo
coin featuring the Maple Leaf Forever.
Canada's cultural diversity inspires many outstanding coin designs and
the Mint's latest expressions of this theme celebrate the unique
heritage of Chinese Canadians. Adding to this popular series is a new
Blessings of Peace $150 face-value, 99.999% pure gold lotus-shaped coin
featuring a dazzling phoenix and the Chinese symbols for peace. A Maple
of Peace fine silver coin features the Mint's newest design of a maple
leaf hologram radiating from the back of an ornately decorated Asian
elephant.
Adding a regal touch to the Mint's latest release of collector coins is
a specimen-finish, 25-cent cupro-nickel coin honouring the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It
features a vivid colour reproduction of a masterpiece by Canadian
painter Phil Richard, who was hand-picked by Her Majesty to paint her
official Canadian Diamond Jubilee portrait. Part of the original work,
which measures over three metres in height, is captured on a richly
coloured 35 mm coin showing Queen Elizabeth II posing at Rideau Hall,
with a portrait her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria in the
background.
The Mint's latest offering concludes with a new series of 99.99% pure
silver coins celebrating different perspectives on the majestic Bald
Eagle. The first coin in the series features the dramatic profile of a
Bald Eagle's head whose feathers are engraved to stunning detail. The
coin is also edge-lettered with "1 OZ FINE SILVER 1 OZ ARGENT PUR".
Mintages, pricing and full background information on each product can be
found on the "Shop" tab of www.mint.ca.
All of these products can be ordered directly from the Mint at
1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or online at www.mint.ca. The coins will also be available at the Royal Canadian Mint's
boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver, as well as through our
global network of dealers and distributors, including participating
Canada Post outlets.
About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown Corporation responsible for the
minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. An ISO
9001-2008 certified company, the 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 Mint, its products and
services, visit www.mint.ca
Images of the Mint's newest collection are available by visiting
ftp://communications:RCM2007@ftp.mint.ca.
SOURCE: Royal Canadian Mint
