Botswana launches new circulation coins produced by the Royal Canadian Mint

Bank of Botswana converts its entire coinage system to Mint's multi-ply plated steel technology

OTTAWA, March 12, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Royal Canadian Mint is pleased to announce that it has produced a new series of multi-ply plated steel circulation coins on behalf of the Bank of Botswana. 

"An industry leader and innovator focused on delivering the best quality and value to our customers, the Mint is pleased to apply its unique expertise to converting all of Botswana's circulation coin denominations to a technology which stands out for its exceptional combination of durability, security and value," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "We are extremely proud that these new multi-ply plated steel coins, produced at our Winnipeg facility, will support Botswana's daily trade and commerce with a level of reliability and confidence which is second to none."

The Bank of Botswana's new multi-ply plated steel coin series consists of the following denominations: 5 pula, 2 pula, 1 pula, 50 thebe, 25 thebe, 10 thebe, 5 thebe.  These coins were officially declared legal tender by His Excellency the President Seretse Khama Ian Khama at a special ceremony to celebrate the nation's new coin series on February 27, 2014. The Mint last produced coins for Botswana in 1991.

Considered cutting-edge in the minting industry, the Mint's multi-ply plated steel technology consists of alternating layers of metals such as nickel, copper and brass plated over a steel core. Today, this proven technology enjoys success all over the world and has been adopted by over 30 countries.

The Mint's newly expanded Winnipeg plating facility has added new capacity to plate coins with a multitude of proprietary, industry leading technologies, including multi-ply plated steel, single layer double-annealed nickel and other advanced technologies which respond to the ever changing needs of a diverse and dynamic international market. With this new plating facility and a permanent research and development centre devoted to advancing all aspects of circulation coin manufacturing, the Mint is confident that it will meet the goal of growing its foreign business to own a 15 percent share of the global plated coin market by 2020.

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.

SOURCE: Royal Canadian Mint

For further information: Alex Reeves, Senior Manager, Communications, Tel: [phone], [e-mail]