Royal Canadian Mint celebrates 100th Grey Cup® with one-dollar circulation coin

TORONTO, Aug. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - A new one-dollar coin commemorating the 100^th Grey Cup, Canada's single biggest annual sporting event, was unveiled today by the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Royal Canadian Mint.

"This new circulation coin immortalizes an important milestone in Canada's sports history and our Government is proud to join Canadians and Canadian football enthusiasts in celebrating the 100^th Grey Cup," said Minister Flaherty.

"The Royal Canadian Mint's latest circulation one-dollar coin offers a unique opportunity to celebrate the 100^th Grey Cup and one of Canada's most exciting annual sporting events," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "Each of the five million 100^th Grey Cup circulation coins will be a permanent tribute to the lasting legacy of professional football in Canada."

"This beautiful, new one dollar coin is a shining tribute to the Grey Cup's iconic place in the history, culture and future of Canada," said Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League™.  "And the stunning team coins and collections underline the important role our league plays in the life of Canadians and their communities," he said.  "I want to thank the Royal Canadian Mint and our fans, who I know will embrace this and everything we're doing to celebrate this year of the 100th Grey Cup with enthusiasm and passion."

Starting tomorrow, Canadians can obtain the 100^th Grey Cup one-dollar circulation coin at participating Canada Post locations across the country.

Designed by Royal Canadian Mint engravers, this finely crafted circulation coin will be used during the coin toss prior to each CFL® game in the lead-up to and during the 100^th Grey Cup game in Toronto on November 25, 2012.   To learn more about the history of the Grey Cup, please see the attached backgrounder.

Numismatic products have also been produced to celebrate the 100^th Grey Cup. A unique collectable set for each CFL team featuring a painted commemorative coin designed by Canadian artist Filip Mroz, two commemorative stamps and a special place to collect the circulation coin is available for $25.95, while supplies last. Ten thousand limited edition silver dollars are also being offered to collectors and football fans alike. Featuring a stylized Grey Cup and also designed by Filip Mroz, this 99.99% pure silver coin is available for $69.95.

As of August 28^th, these numismatic products can be purchased at participating Canada Post locations, at www.mint.ca/greycup, by calling the Mint at 1-800-267-1871, by visiting the Mint's boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver or through the Mint's global network of dealers and distributors.

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.

Images of the circulation and collector coins celebrating the 100^th Grey Cup are available by visiting ftp://communications:[e-mail].

THE HISTORY OF THE GREY CUP®
AND THE 100TH GREY CUP CIRCULATION COIN

The Grey Cup trophy was donated in 1909 by the Right Honourable Lord Earl Grey, then Governor General of Canada and was originally intended to be awarded to the winners of the Dominion Championship of Canadian Amateur Rugby Football. The very first Grey Cup game, played on December 4, 1909, saw the University of Toronto defeat the Parkdale Canoe Club by a score of 26-6 at Toronto's Rosedale Field before a crowd of 3,807.

The last time the Grey Cup was contested by amateur teams was in 1954 and today is awarded annually to the champions of the professional Canadian Football League™. Since 1948, the game has been accompanied by a festival, which spans several days and has itself become a source of pride for Canadians. The honour of hosting the championship is rotated among CFL® cities, where thousands of Canadians make an annual Grey Cup pilgrimage. Millions more make the trip in spirit, by tuning in from their living rooms from coast to coast to coast.

The Grey Cup was not contested for three years for reasons that ranged from respect for the First World War effort to a dispute between rival leagues. By the time of the Second World War, the Grey Cup was considered a fixture of Canadian sporting life. It has visited most of Canada, our troops in Afghanistan and other battle zones, and will embark on a special tour of the country in 2012.

The trophy that is awarded on Grey Cup Sunday is the original, although its base has evolved and changed over the years, to make room for the names of the winning teams and their players, coaches and management. The current base, introduced in 1987, has room for one more entry, which will be the winning team of the 100^th Grey Cup, set for Toronto's Rogers Centre on November 25, 2012.

The Royal Canadian Mint has produced five million one-dollar circulation coins to celebrate the 100^th Grey Cup.  The coin, featuring the iconic Grey Cup, is available at participating Canada Post locations across Canada as of August 28, 2012.

® Registered trade-mark of the Canadian Football League
™ Trade-mark of the Canadian Football League

Image with caption: "From left to right: Mr. James B. Love, Chair of the Royal Canadian Mint's Board of Directors, the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance and Mr. Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League launch the 2012 one-dollar circulation coin celebrating the 100th Grey Cup at the Rogers Centre in Toronto (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Mint)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120827_C9679_PHOTO_EN_17258.jpg

SOURCE: Royal Canadian Mint

For further information:

Christine Aquino
Director, Communications
Royal Canadian Mint
Telephone: [phone]
Cell: 613-797-9125
[e-mail]