Royal Canadian Mint Olympic coins

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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] There are existing varieties that have missed the edge lettering process. [6]

[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. [7] 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. [8] On the circulating coins, it is also notable that name 'Canada' has been moved to the obverse; this has necessitated removing the phrase 'D G Regina' from beside the Queen's portrait.

[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 Downhill 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

Year Theme Artist Mintage Issue Price
1987 XV Olympic Winter Games Friedrich Peter 145,175 $255.00

[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 2,145,000 [9]
2008 Lucky Loonie TBD TBD
2010 Lucky Loonie TBD TBD

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 19,956 [10] $39. To commemorate 2006 Torino Olympics

[edit] 2010 Vancouver Olympics

[edit] Circulation Coins

With regards to the circulation coins, one of the novelties is that D.G. Regina will be removed from the Queen's effigy, making the 25-cent coins the first "godless circulating coins" since the 2001 "volunteer" 10 cent piece. “14 circulating coins included in 2010 Olympic program”, Bret Evans, Canadian Coin News, January 23 to February 5, 2007 issue of Canadian Coin News </ref> The first circulating $1 coin will be dated 2008 but the obverse will be the standard effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt with the wording "ELIZABETH II" and "D.G. REGINA" with the Circle M privy mark. [11]

  • 2007 Five different Olympic commemoratives were minted for circulation.
Year Sport Artist Mintage
2007 Curling Glen Green 22,000,000
2007 Ice Hockey Glen Green 22,000,000
2007 Wheelchair curling Glen Green 22,000,000
2007 Biathlon Glen Green 22,000,000
2007 Alpine Skiing Glen Green 22,000,000

All of these coins were also made available at Petro-Canada service stations, encapulated on a credit card-sized card. Many pressings of the Alpine Skiing coin released to Petro-Canada stations and to special 2010 Winter Olympic "coin boards" in October 2007 were the victim of a pressing error called a mule, with a 2008 obverse accidentally minted rather than the expected 2007. According to the Royal Canadian Mint, an estimated 40,000 Petro-Canada "sports cards" and 10,000 "coin board" sets were released with the error before it was caught. A similar mule occurred with the Wheelchair Curling issue, with an obverse featuring the standard Vancouver 2010 logo being used instead of the Paralympic logo. Both coins subsequently found demand in the collectors market.[12]

  • 2008 Four different Olympic commemoratives are planned for circulation.
Year Sport Artist Mintage
2008 Snowboarding Glen Green 22,000,000
2008 Freestyle Skiing Glen Green 22,000,000
2008 Figure Skating TBA TBD
2008 Bobsleigh TBA TBD
  • 2009 Three different Olympic commemoratives are planned for circulation.
Year Sport Artist Mintage
2009 Speed Skating TBA TBD
2009 Cross Country Skiing TBA TBD
2009 Sledge hockey TBA TBD

[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 Glen Green 10,000 $15.95 April 4
2007 Wheelchair curling Glen Green 10,000 $15.95 July 11
2007 Biathlon Glen Green 10,000 $15.95 September 12
2007 Alpine Skiing Glen Green 10,000 $15.95 October 24
2008 Snowboarding Glen Green 10,000 $15.95 February 20
2008 Freestyle Skiing Glen Green 10,000 $15.95 April 16

[edit] Special Edition Coin rolls

  • As these rolls were sold directly from the Royal Canadian Mint in a special red paper wrapping, they were guaranteed in Uncirculated Condition. The rolls were sold at a premium price of $16.95 each, despite having a face value of ten dollars.
Year Sport Artist Mintage Issue Price Release Date
2007 Curling Glen Green 10,000 $16.95 February 24
2007 Ice Hockey Glen Green 10,000 $16.95 April 4
2007 Paralympic Curling Glen Green 10,000 $16.95 July 11
2007 Biathlon Glen Green 10,000 $16.95 September 12
2007 Alpine Skiing Glen Green 10,000 $16.95 October 24
2008 Snowboaring Glen Green 10,000 $16.95 February 20
2008 Freestyle Skiing Glen Green 10,000 $16.95 April 16

[edit] Special edition uncirculated coin sets

Year Mintage Issue Price
2007 30,000 $23.95
2008 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 Steve Hepburn 45,000 $69.95 April 4
2007 Athletes Pride Shelagh Armstrong 45,000 $69.95 July 11
2007 Biathlon Bonnie Ross 45,000 $69.95 September 12
2007 Alpine Skiing Brian Hughes 45,000 $69.95 October 24
2008 Snowboarding Steve Hepburn 45,000 $71.95 February 20
2008 Freestyle Skiing John Mardon 45,000 $71.95 April 16
2008 Home of 2010 Winter Games TBD TBD TBD July 23
2008 Figure Skating TBD TBD TBD September 10
2008 Bobsleigh TBD TBD TBD October 29
2009 Speed Skating TBD TBD TBD February 20
2009 Cross Country Skiing TBD TBD TBD April 16
2009 Olympic Spirit TBD TBD TBD July 23
2009 Skeleton TBD TBD TBD September 10
2009 Ski Jumping TBD TBD TBD October 29

[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 Shelagh Armstrong 8,000 $389.95 July 11
2007 Canada Geese Kerri Burnett 8,000 $389.95 October 24
2008 Four Host First Nations Jody Broomfield 8,000 $409.95 February 20
2008 Home of 2010 Winter Games TBD TBD TBD July 23
2008 Inukshuk TBD TBD TBD October 29
2009 Wolf TBD TBD TBD February 18
2009 Olympic Spirit TBD TBD TBD June 17
2009 Moose TBD TBD TBD September 9

[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 Early Canada Stan Witten 2,500 $1,299.95
2008 Towards Confederation Susan Taylor 2,500 $1,599.95

[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 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
2008 Competition David Craig (inner design), Laurie McGaw (outer ring design) 2,500 $1,565.95
2009 Friendship TBD TBD TBD

[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 gold coin with guaranteed weight of 1 kilo
Year Design Artist Mintage Issue Price
2007 Early Canada Stan Witten 20 $36,000.00
2008 Towards Confederation Susan Taylor 20 $49,000.00

[edit] Mascot Coins

Year Mascot Diameter Weight Issue Price
2008 Miga 23.88mm 4.4 g $15.95
2008 Quatch 23.88mm 4.4 g $15.95
2008 Sumi 23.88mm 4.4 g $15.95

Miga

Quatchi

Sumi

[edit] Bullion Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint and the International Olympic Committee have reached an agreement on Olympic Gold and Silver Maple Leaf coins. The announcement was made on August 3, 2007 and the agreement allows the RCM to strike bullion coins with the emblems of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. [13] The issue will consist of two coins: one Gold Maple Leaf coin and a Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coin and both coins will feature the date of 2008. The new agreement means that the RCM is now selling Olympic coins through all of its major business lines: bullion, circulation, numismatics. [14]

[edit] 2010 Winter Paralympics

Two commemorative circulation coins for the 2010 Winter Paralympics were issued. They are listed on the above chart but are also listed separately for easier reference.

Specifications

Years Weight Diameter/Shape Composition
2007–present 4.4 g 23.88 mm 94.0% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel plating

Details

Date of Issue Sport Artist Mintage
July 11, 2007 Wheelchair curling Glen Green 22,000,000
June 17, 2009 Sledge hockey TBD TBD

[edit] References

  1. ^ Striking Impressions, James A. Haxby, 1983, p.234, ISBN 0-660-91234-1
  2. ^ Striking Impressions, James A. Haxby, 1983, p.232, ISBN 0-660-91234-1
  3. ^ Striking Impressions, James A. Haxby, 1983, p.234, ISBN 0-660-91234-1
  4. ^ Striking Impressions, James A. Haxby, 1983, p.236, ISBN 0-660-91234-1
  5. ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, W.K. Cross, 2006. p.354, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  6. ^ The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Anniversary Edition, W.K. Cross, p. 354, The Charlton Press, 2006, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  7. ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, W.K. Cross, 2006. p.349, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  8. ^ ”Olympic commems to sport $25 face”, Canadian Coin News, p.1, Bret Evans, January 9 to 22, 2007
  9. ^ 2006 Royal Canadian Mint Annual Report, p. 46
  10. ^ 2006 Royal Canadian Mint Annual Report, p. 44
  11. ^ “14 circulating coins included in 2010 Olympic program”, Bret Evans, Canadian Coin News, January 23 to February 5, 2007 issue of Canadian Coin News
  12. ^ "Catching the mule, again", Bret Evans, Canadian Coin News, November 27 to December 10, 2007, p. 1.
  13. ^ “Maples will sport Olympic Rings”, Bret Evans, Canadian Coin News, September 4 to September 17, 2007
  14. ^ “Maples will sport Olympic Rings”, Bret Evans, Canadian Coin News, September 4 to September 17, 2007

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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