TORONTO, Sept. 9, 2013 /CNW/ - In the heart of the city that inspired
Metropolis, the famous backdrop against which the story of Superman™
has been told since 1938, the Royal Canadian Mint has released seven
exciting new coins to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the world's most celebrated Super Hero. Co-created by
Canadian Joe Shuster and his American collaborator Jerry Siegel, the
Man of Steel is now honoured on collector coins which were unveiled
today at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square by Canada's Citizenship and
Immigration Minister Chris Alexander and Mr. Ian E. Bennett, President
and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.
"The generations of young people who grew up reading Superman comics may
not have fully appreciated the story behind them," said Minister
Alexander. "Our government celebrates Canada's history and heritage
and the very values and strengths that Superman embodies."
"Seventy-five years after Superman's introduction to the world, Mint
employees are proud to honour Superman's legacy by producing a special
series of gold, silver and cupro-nickel collector coins for Canadians
and collectors alike to treasure for years to come," said Mr. Bennett.
"The Man of Steel inspired legions of popular comic book heroes, but only Superman has been immortalized on Canadian coins, which feature
bold innovations and superb craftsmanship."
"Superman is the most iconic Super Hero with legions of fans around the
world that span multiple generations," said Karen McTier, Executive
Vice President, Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing, Warner
Bros. Consumer Products. "We're thrilled to partner with DC
Entertainment to offer the Royal Canadian Mint the ultimate DC Comics
Super Hero in this honorable collection that embodies the world of
Superman."
Coins from the exciting new Superman series can now be ordered directly
from the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or
on the Internet at www.mint.ca/superman. The coins will also be available as of September 10, 2013, at the
Royal Canadian Mint's boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver, as
well as through the Mint's global network of dealers and distributors,
including participating Canada Post outlets.
*Please see the attached backgrounder for further product information.
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.
2013 marks the 75th anniversary of the creation of SupermanTM — SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of ©
DC Comics. (s13)
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is
one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in
the world.
About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman,
Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and
MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating
its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC
Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to
unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not
limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and
interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels
and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest
English-language publisher of comics in the world. In January 2012, DC
Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner
divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the
iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to
fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.
SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and ©
DC Comics.
(s13)
Coin images are available by visiting ftp://communications:RCM2007@ftp.mint.ca.
Backgrounder
THE ROYAL CANADIAN MINT'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF SUPERMANTM COMMEMORATIVE COINS
After capturing the imagination of the world for more than seven
decades, the story of Superman is being celebrated on seven exciting
collector coins produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. From his early
years to the modern day, every dimension of Superman on his 75th
anniversary is reflected on these spectacular collectibles in gold,
silver and cupro-nickel.
In a remarkable design feat, the Mint has added Kryptonian engraving
which reads "75 years of Superman" to the edge of the reverse design of
several of the coins. As well, each coin is packaged in a distinctly
illustrated beauty box featuring the most memorable sights and symbols
of the Man of Steel.
GOLD
2013 $75 14KT GOLD COIN - 75th ANNIVERSARY OF SUPERMAN:
THE EARLY YEARS
To craft the world's first gold coin depicting Superman, the Mint has
chosen a $75 face value, 14KT gold coin featuring a full colour image
of the DC Comics Super Hero soaring over Metropolis as his
Canadian-born co-creator, Joe Shuster, pictured him on the cover of the
Superman No. 1 comic book. That legendary image is framed by a
meticulously engraved rendering of Superman's crystalline Fortress of
Solitude, whose three contrasting finishes add an impressive level of
dimension to this exclusive collectible. Limited to a world-wide
mintage of 2,000 examples, this coin retails for $ 750.00 CDN.
SILVER
2013 $10 FINE SILVER COIN - 75th ANNIVERSARY OF SUPERMAN:
VINTAGE
Another classic image is captured on a 99.99% pure, $10 face value
silver coin featuring Superman breaking out of chains as he defeats
another legion of villains. This vintage portrait of the Superman
legend is beautifully engraved on a coin limited ton 15,000 examples
world-wide, each retailing fornmintage of 15,000 coins for $44.75 CDN.
2013 $15 FINE SILVER COIN - 75th ANNIVERSARY OF SUPERMAN:
MODERN DAY
This tribute to today's Superman features the most contemporary image of
the famed DC Comics Super Hero. Again, a full colour image of the Man
of Steel leaps from the flawless background of a proof silver coin and
evokes the thrilling action of Superman in full flight. This 99.99%
pure silver coin is packaged in a beauty box adorned by a classic image
of his alter ego Clark Kent and the unmistakable "S-Shield". Limited to
a world-wide mintage of 15,000, this $15 face value coin retails for
$69.75 CDN.
2013 $20 FINE SILVER COIN - 75th ANNIVERSARY OF SUPERMAN:
MAN OF STEEL
The iconic cover of Superman No. 204 shows a Jim Lee illustration of the
Super Hero standing guard over Metropolis in vivid colour on a 99.99%
pure silver coin. Superman's chiseled physique and flowing red cape
are enhanced by the application of colour over an engraved relief of
this modern-day image. With a $20 face value and world-wide mintage of
only 10,000 pieces, this coin is offered at $109.75 CDN.
2013 $20 FINE SILVER COIN - 75th ANNIVERSARY OF SUPERMAN:
THE SHIELD
No numismatic tribute to Superman would be complete without a coin
boldly displaying Superman's iconic "S-Shield". The Mint has achieved
this by rendering that universally recognized symbol in vibrant yellow
and red enamel virtually floating over the mirror-like field of a
proof-finish 99.99% pure silver coin. The diamond-shaped shield with
its stylized "S", which Superman's co-creators adopted in the 1940's,
remains the unmistakable signature of Superman, which can be found on
only 10,000 of these $20 face value fine silver coins, each retailing
for $119.75 CDN.
2013 $20 FINE SILVER COIN - 75th ANNIVERSARY OF SUPERMAN:
METROPOLIS
The celebration of modern-day Superman is anchored by yet another Royal
Canadian Mint innovation; the world's first coin to feature an
achromatic hologram. The Mint has taken a technology first developed
for passports and other high security documents to new heights to give
a flat surface the amazing look of a fully engraved, 3-D image. Set
against a conventional hologram showing the Daily Planet building and
the Metropolis skyline, the achromatic hologram of Superman flying over
Metropolis creates the otherworldly impression that he is flying out of
the coin. That sensational effect is created on a 99.99% pure silver
coin with a $20 face value, of which only 10,000 examples are
available, each retailing for $129.75 CDN.
CUPRO-NICKEL
2013 COIN AND STAMP SET - 75th ANNIVERSARY OF SUPERMAN: THEN AND NOW
The iconic cover art of Superman No. 1 also appears on a 50-cent
cupro-nickel coin whose theme of "Then and Now" is brought to life by
the addition of lenticular image technology. Packaged with a Canada
Post stamp commemorative also featuring Superman No. 1, this coin
shifts from Joe Shuster's original design to a modern interpretation of
the same pose by celebrated Superman artist and DC Entertainment's
Co-Publisher Jim Lee. This unique coin and stamp set coin is being
produced on demand and retails for $29.75 CDN.
SOURCE Government of Canada
