New one-dollar circulation coin celebrates 100th anniversary of Canadian women's right to vote

OTTAWA, March 8, 2016 /CNW/ - One hundred years after Canadian women won the right to vote in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta provincial elections, the Royal Canadian Mint has released a special one-dollar circulation coin to commemorate this important milestone in the history of women's rights in Canada. The coin was unveiled today by the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada and the Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance at a ceremony held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.  

"As Canada joins the world today in celebrating International Women's Day, the Government of Canada is delighted that the Mint has commemorated a milestone in the history of Canadian women with a special one-dollar coin recognizing the 100^th anniversary of women's right to vote," said the Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance. "Canadians from coast to coast to coast should look for this coin and collect it as a reminder that equality endures as a fundamental value of Canadian society." 

"The Mint is proud to issue a new one-dollar circulation coin which shares the story of the 100^th anniversary of a moment which forever changed voting rights for Canadian women," said Sandra Hanington, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "It is especially fitting that this coin was produced in Winnipeg, in the province where women first won the right to vote in 1916."

A total of five million Women's Right to Vote one-dollar circulation coins will be available nation-wide as of today. Designed by Canadian artist Laurie McGaw, the reverse of this coin features a 1916-era depiction of woman and child, with the woman casting a ballot as the child looks on. The inscriptions "WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE", "DROIT DE VOTE DES FEMMES" and "1916-2016" also appear in the top portion of the coin.

Canadians can look for this coin in their change, attend coin exchanges at the Mint's Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver boutiques, or obtain limited quantities through an online coin exchange at www.mint.ca (limited to Canada only). 

The image of this coin is available here.

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

Image with caption: "The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women and the Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance unveil a new one-dollar circulation coin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in Canada. (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Mint)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160308_C8355_PHOTO_EN_638542.jpg

For further information: Christine Aquino, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Royal Canadian Mint, Tel: [phone], [e-mail]