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[edit] 1976 Montreal Summer Games
Most numismatists agree that the first true numismatic collection was the Olympic Five and Ten Dollar coins for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Starting in February 1973, the RCM engaged in a very ambitious program. At the behest of the Federal Government, led by then-Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, it was agreed that these coins would help finance while commemorate the 1976 Summer Olympics.
The plan was to have thirty coins, twenty-eight silver coins with face values of $5 and $10, and two gold coins. This would signify the first time that the RCM issued coins with face values of $5 and $10. These coins would be categorized into seven series with each series configured into four coin sets (two five dollar coins and two ten dollar coins) [1]. The seven series were constituted as follows:
- Geographic
- Olympic Motifs
- Early Canadian Sports
- Olympic Track and Field Sports
- Olympic Summer Sports
- Olympic Team and Body Contact Sports
- Olympic Souvenirs
A key highlight of these coins were the standardized designs and the unique finishes. All 28 coins were styled in a similar fashion. The top aspect of the coin had the Olympic logo, its denomination, and the wording in the same spot. [2] The finishes consisted of two different styles that had never been used on Canadian coinage. The first finish was a satin or frosted effect which adorned the coin. The second finish was a proof finish, which consisted of frosted lettering and a design set off against a brilliant mirror field. The RCM had to obtain special equipment to achieve the desired finish. [3]
Due to the incredibly high mintage (over 20 million coins were produced), these coins have no investment value whatsoever. Most of these coins today are usually sold for their silver content. It was hoped that the sales of the coins would be sufficient to finance the entire Summer Games. In the end, the Games cost over $1 billion dollars, with coin sales accounting for less than 10% of the proceeds. [4]
[edit] 1988 Calgary Winter Games
Heading into the 1980s, the Olympics would return to Canada. The city of Calgary would host the 1988 Winter Olympics. Starting in 1985, the Federal Government, under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, issued a ten coin set to help finance and commemorate the Olympic games. In similar style to the Montreal Olympics, the RCM would introduce coins with a face value that had never been used before. Said coins would feature a $20 face value. These coins were issued in Proof quality only, and were sold with the partnership of the Royal Bank of Canada. Unlike the Montreal coins, mintage was limited to 5,000,000 coins and this would mark the first time that any silver coin had edge lettering on it. Said lettering was 'XV OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES - JEUX D'OLYMPIQUES D'HIVER.' [5]
[edit] The Olympic Centennial
The International Olympic Committee decided to commemorate the Centennial of the Olympic Games by issuing a coin set. This was a collaborative effort with five Mints contributing coins. The first three coins were issued by the RCM in 1992. The other Mints included Austria, Australia, France, and Greece.
Two of the coins were silver with a face value of $15 while the third coin was gold and had a face value of $175. The $15 coins were sold individually or in a set. The individual coins were packaged in a burgundy leatherette case while the set was featured in a wooden display case. Both $15 coins featured lettering on its edge: CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS. [6] The $175 coin featured a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Juan Antonio Samaranch. The lettering on its edge was the same as the lettering found on the silver coins.
[edit] 2010 Vancouver Winter Games
A partnership has already been struck with the Canadian Olympic Committee to produce commemorative coins for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. The 2010 Winter Olympics will mark the third time that the Royal Canadian Mint will be involved with commemorative coins for an Olympic event being hosted in Canada. Just like Montreal and Calgary, the Royal Canadian Mint will be introducing a new denomination to the Vancouver Olympic coins. The non-circulating legal tender commemorative coins will have a face value of $25, a Canadian first. [7]
[edit] Olympic coins
[edit] 1976 Montreal Olympics
Series 1
Year |
Coin Number |
Face Value |
Theme |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price (Encapsulated) |
Issue Price (Standard Case) |
1973 |
Coin No. 1 |
Ten Dollars |
Map of World |
Georges Huel |
543,098 |
$12.00 |
$14.00 |
1973 |
Coin No. 2 |
Five Dollars |
Map of North America |
Georges Huel |
537,898 |
$6.00 |
$7.50 |
1973 |
Coin No. 3 |
Ten Dollars |
Montreal Skyline |
Georges Huel |
Included in mintage of No. 1 |
$12.00 |
$14.00 |
1973 |
Coin No. 4 |
Five Dollars |
Kingston and Sailboats |
Georges Huel |
Included in mintage of No. 2 |
$6.00 |
$7.50 |
Series 2
Year |
Coin Number |
Face Value |
Theme |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price (Encapsulated) |
Issue Price (Standard Case) |
1974 |
Coin No. 5 |
Ten Dollars |
Head of Zeus |
Anthony Mann |
1,990,570 |
$15.00 |
$17.00 |
1974 |
Coin No. 6 |
Five Dollars |
Athlete with Torch |
Anthony Mann |
1,974,939 |
$7.50 |
$9.00 |
1974 |
Coin No. 7 |
Ten Dollars |
Temple of Zeus |
Anthony Mann |
Included in mintage of No. 5 |
$15.00 |
$17.00 |
1974 |
Coin No. 8 |
Five Dollars |
Olympic Reigns and Wreath |
Anthony Mann |
Included in mintage of No. 6 |
$7.50 |
$9.00 |
Series 3
Year |
Coin Number |
Face Value |
Theme |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price (Encapsulated) |
Issue Price (Standard Case) |
1974 |
Coin No. 9 |
Ten Dollars |
Lacrosse |
Ken Danby |
1,990,570 |
$15.75 |
$17.00 |
1974 |
Coin No. 10 |
Five Dollars |
Canoeing |
Ken Danby |
1,974,939 |
$8.00 |
$9.00 |
1974 |
Coin No. 11 |
Ten Dollars |
Cycling |
Ken Danby |
Included in mintage of No. 9 |
$15.75 |
$17.00 |
1974 |
Coin No. 12 |
Five Dollars |
Rowing |
Ken Danby |
Included in mintage of No. 10 |
$8.00 |
$9.00 |
Series 4
Year |
Coin Number |
Face Value |
Theme |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price (Encapsulated) |
Issue Price (Standard Case) |
1975 |
Coin No. 13 |
Ten Dollars |
Men’s Hurdles |
Leo Yerxa |
1,985,000 |
$15.75 |
$17.00 |
1975 |
Coin No. 14 |
Five Dollars |
Marathon |
Leo Yerxa |
2,476,217 |
$8.00 |
$9.00 |
1975 |
Coin No. 15 |
Ten Dollars |
Women’s Shot Put |
Leo Yerxa |
Included in mintage of No. 13 |
$15.75 |
$17.00 |
1975 |
Coin No. 16 |
Five Dollars |
Women’s Javelin |
Leo Yerxa |
Included in mintage of No. 14 |
$8.00 |
$9.00 |
Series 5
Year |
Coin Number |
Face Value |
Theme |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price (Encapsulated) |
Issue Price (Standard Case) |
1975 |
Coin No. 17 |
Ten Dollars |
Paddling |
Lynda Cooper |
1,985,000 |
$15.75 |
$17.00 |
1975 |
Coin No. 18 |
Five Dollars |
Diving |
Lynda Cooper |
2,476,217 |
$8.00 |
$9.00 |
1975 |
Coin No. 19 |
Ten Dollars |
Sailing |
Lynda Cooper |
Included in mintage of No. 17 |
$15.75 |
$17.00 |
1975 |
Coin No. 20 |
Five Dollars |
Swimming |
Lynda Cooper |
Included in mintage of No. 18 |
$8.00 |
$9.00 |
Series 6
Year |
Coin Number |
Face Value |
Theme |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price (Encapsulated) |
Issue Price (Standard Case) |
1976 |
Coin No. 21 |
Ten Dollars |
Field Hockey |
Shigeo Fukada |
1,887,630 |
$15.75 |
$17.00 |
1976 |
Coin No. 22 |
Five Dollars |
Fencing |
Shigeo Fukada |
1,985,257 |
$8.00 |
$9.00 |
1976 |
Coin No. 23 |
Ten Dollars |
Soccer |
Shigeo Fukada |
Included in mintage of No. 21 |
$15.75 |
$17.00 |
1976 |
Coin No. 24 |
Five Dollars |
Boxing |
Shigeo Fukada |
Included in mintage of No. 22 |
$8.00 |
$9.00 |
Series 7
Year |
Coin Number |
Face Value |
Theme |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price (Encapsulated) |
Issue Price (Standard Case) |
1976 |
Coin No. 25 |
Ten Dollars |
Olympic Stadium |
Elliott John Morrison |
1,887,629 |
$15.75 |
$17.00 |
1976 |
Coin No. 26 |
Five Dollars |
Olympic Village |
Elliott John Morrison |
1,985,257 |
$8.00 |
$9.00 |
1976 |
Coin No. 27 |
Ten Dollars |
Olympic Velodrome |
Elliott John Morrison |
Included in mintage of No. 25 |
$15.75 |
$17.00 |
1976 |
Coin No. 28 |
Five Dollars |
Olympic Flame |
Elliott John Morrison |
Included in mintage of No. 22 |
$8.00 |
$9.00 |
100 Dollar Gold
Year |
Theme |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
1976 |
Olympic Commemorative (14 karat) |
Dora de Pédery-Hunt |
650,000 |
$105.00 |
1976 |
Olympic Commemorative (22 karat) |
Dora de Pédery-Hunt |
350,000 |
$150.00 |
[edit] 1988 Calgary Olympics
Year |
Series |
Sport |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
1985 |
First Series |
Donwhill Skiing |
Ian Stewart |
406,360 |
$37.00 |
1985 |
First Series |
Speed Skating |
Friedrich Peter |
354,222 |
$37.00 |
1986 |
Second Series |
Hockey |
Ian Stewart |
396,602 |
$37.00 |
1986 |
Second Series |
Biathlon |
John Mardon |
308,086 |
$37.00 |
1986 |
Third Series |
Cross-Country Skiing |
Ian Stewart |
303,199 |
$39.50 |
1986 |
Third Series |
Free-Style Skiing |
Walter Ott |
294,322 |
$39.50 |
1986 |
Fourth Series |
Figure Skating |
Raymond Taylor |
334,875 |
$39.50 |
1986 |
Fourth Series |
Curling |
Walter Ott |
286,457 |
$39.50 |
1987 |
Fifth Series |
Ski-Jumping |
Raymond Taylor |
290,954 |
$42.00 |
1987 |
Fifth Series |
Bobsleigh |
John Mardon |
274,326 |
$42.00 |
One Hundred Dollar Gold
[edit] 100th anniversary of the Olympic Movement
Year |
Theme |
Artist |
Mintage |
Face Value |
Issue Price |
1992 |
Speed Skater, Pole Vaulter, Gymnast |
David Craig |
105,645 |
$15.00 |
$46.95 |
1992 |
Spirit of the Generations |
Stewart Sherwood |
Included in mintage of first coin |
$15.00 |
$46.95 |
1992 |
Flame |
Stewart Sherwood |
22,092 |
$175.00 |
$429.75 |
[edit] Lucky Loonie
[edit] Circulation coins
Year |
Theme |
Artist |
Mintage |
2004 |
Lucky Loonie |
R.R. Carmichael |
6,526,000 |
2006 |
Lucky Loonie |
Jean-Luc Grondin |
N/A |
First Strikes
Year |
Theme |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
2006 |
Lucky Loonie |
20,010 |
$15.95 |
[edit] Numismatic coins
Year |
Theme |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
Special Notes |
2002 |
Centre Ice Coin |
R.R. Carmichael |
25,000 |
$54.95 |
This coin was to commemorate Canada’s Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Victory in Men’s and Women’s Hockey at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. It was part of the Going for the Gold Set, which included Olympic stamps and MacLean's magazine. Another feature of the coin was that it was a double dated coin featuring the years 1987 (to recognize the first year of production) and 2002. |
2004 |
Sterling Silver Lucky Loonie |
R.R. Carmichael, RCM Staff |
19,941 |
$39.95. |
to commemorate 2004 Athens Olympics |
2006 |
Sterling Silver Lucky Loonie |
Jean-Luc Grondin |
N/A |
$39.95 |
to commemorate 2006 Torino Olympics |
[edit] 2010 Vancouver Olympics
[edit] Circulation Coins
[edit] Twenty-Five Cents
First Strikes
Year |
Sport |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
Release Date |
2007 |
Curling |
Glen Green |
10,000 |
$15.95 |
February 24 |
2007 |
Ice Hockey |
N/A |
10,000 |
$15.95 |
April 4 |
2007 |
Paralympic Curling |
N/A |
10,000 |
$15.95 |
July 11 |
2007 |
Biathlon |
N/A |
10,000 |
$15.95 |
September 12 |
2007 |
Alpine Skiing |
N/A |
10,000 |
$15.95 |
October 24 |
[edit] Circulation coin rolls
Year |
Sport |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
Release Date |
2007 |
Curling |
Glen Green |
10,000 |
$16.95 |
February 24 |
2007 |
Ice Hockey |
N/A |
10,000 |
$16.95 |
April 4 |
2007 |
Paralympic Curling |
N/A |
10,000 |
$16.95 |
July 11 |
2007 |
Biathlon |
N/A |
10,000 |
$16.95 |
September 12 |
2007 |
Alpine Skiing |
N/A |
10,000 |
$16.95 |
October 24 |
[edit] Special edition uncirculated coin sets
Year |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
2007 |
30,000 |
$23.95 |
[edit] Numismatic coins
[edit] Twenty-Five Dollars
Specifications
Composition |
Finish |
Weight (grams) |
Diameter (mm) |
Special Notes |
92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
Proof (with hologram on reverse) |
27.78 |
40 |
First ever holographic coin collection for the Olympic Winter Games |
Year |
Sport |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
Release Date |
2007 |
Curling |
Steve Hepburn |
45,000 |
$69.95 |
February 24 |
2007 |
Ice Hockey |
N/A |
45,000 |
$69.95 |
April 4 |
2007 |
Athletes Pride |
N/A |
45,000 |
$69.95 |
July 11 |
2007 |
Biathlon |
N/A |
45,000 |
$69.95 |
September 12 |
2007 |
Alpine Skiing |
N/A |
45,000 |
$69.95 |
October 24 |
[edit] Seventy-Five Dollars
Specifications
Composition |
Finish |
Weight (grams) |
Diameter (mm) |
Special Notes |
58.33% gold, 41.67% silver |
Proof (with colour on reverse) |
12 |
27 |
Canadian Culture, Wildlife, and Winter Games themes |
Year |
Design |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
Release Date |
2007 |
RCMP |
Cecily Mok |
8,000 |
$389.95 |
February 24 |
2007 |
Athletes Pride |
N/A |
8,000 |
$389.95 |
July 11 |
2007 |
Canada Geese |
N/A |
8,000 |
$389.95 |
October 24 |
[edit] Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars
Specifications
Composition |
Finish |
Weight (grams) |
Diameter (mm) |
Special Notes |
99.99% pure silver |
Proof |
1,000 |
101.6 |
First time that RCM has produced a pure silver coin with guaranteed weight of 1 kilo |
Year |
Design |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
2007 |
Towards Confederation |
Stan Witten |
2,500 |
$1,299.95 |
[edit] Three Hundred Dollars
Specifications
Composition |
Finish |
Weight (grams) |
Diameter (mm) |
Special Notes |
58.33% gold, 41.67% silver |
Proof (bullion on reverse) |
60 |
50 |
Repeated on each coin is a circle of wonderfully sculpted faces looking into three different central designs |
Year |
Design |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
2007 |
Olympic Ideals |
David Craig (inner design), Laurie McGaw (outer ring design) |
2,500 |
$1,499.95 |
[edit] Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars
Specifications
Composition |
Finish |
Weight (grams) |
Diameter (mm) |
Special Notes |
99.99% pure gold |
Proof |
1,000 |
101.6 |
First time that RCM has produced a pure silver coin with guaranteed weight of 1 kilo |
Year |
Design |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
2007 |
Towards Confederation |
Stan Witten |
20 |
$36,000.00 |
[edit] References
- ^ Striking Impressions, James A. Haxby, 1983, p.234, ISBN 0-660-91234-1
- ^ Striking Impressions, James A. Haxby, 1983, p.232, ISBN 0-660-91234-1
- ^ Striking Impressions, James A. Haxby, 1983, p.234, ISBN 0-660-91234-1
- ^ Striking Impressions, James A. Haxby, 1983, p.236, ISBN 0-660-91234-1
- ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, W.K. Cross, 2006. p.354, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
- ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, W.K. Cross, 2006. p.349, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
- ^ ”Olympic commems to sport $25 face”, Canadian Coin News, p.1, Bret Evans, January 9 to 22, 2007
[edit] See also
[edit] External links