Royal Canadian Mint marks 150th anniversary of Charlottetown and Quebec City conferences with 1/25th ounce gold collector coin

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI, Aug. 26, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Royal Canadian Mint has produced a beautifully engraved and symbolically rich 1/25^th ounce gold coin to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences. The coin was unveiled today on the grounds of Province House National Historic Site by the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the Honourable Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island and Mr. Marc Brûlé, Chief Financial Officer of the Royal Canadian Mint.

"Our Government is proud that the Mint is paying tribute to the vital role our forefathers played in the creation of Canada, the best country in the world," said Minister Shea. "As we build the path towards Canada's 150^th anniversary in 2017, it is important to pause and reflect on such pivotal moments in our nation's history."

"As we continue to mark this celebration year across Prince Edward Island, I am delighted that the Mint has produced such a stunning keepsake to honour this landmark anniversary," said Premier Ghiz.  "This coin is yet another way to remind Canadians from coast to coast to coast that, as a stepping stone to Confederation, Charlottetown holds a very special place in our history."

"A key priority for the Mint is to mark distinctive milestones in Canada's history, culture and values and paying tribute to such a significant step in our country's road to nationhood is yet another example," said Mr. Brûlé. "This coin is a beautiful addition for avid collectors or a thoughtful introduction to collecting for history buffs and Canadian heritage enthusiasts."

The coin's reverse design by Royal Canadian Mint engraver Matthew Bowen is a reinterpretation of Canada's 1964 silver dollar celebrating the centennial of the Charlottetown and Quebec City Conferences. It features the floral symbols of the major European settler groups represented in the Canadian provinces at the time of Canadian Confederation: the French fleur-de-lis, the English rose, the Irish shamrock, and the Scottish thistle.  This 99.99% pure gold coin, bearing a face value of 50-cents, has a limited mintage of 7,500 and retails for $129.95.  

The 150^th anniversary of the Charlottetown and Quebec City Conferences gold coin can be ordered directly from the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or on the Internet at www.mint.ca.  It will also be available as of September 2, 2014, at the Royal Canadian Mint's boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver, as well as through the Mint's global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets.

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 this coin are available by visiting ftp://communications:[email protected].

SOURCE: Royal Canadian Mint

For further information: media are asked to contact: Christine Aquino, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Royal Canadian Mint, Telephone: [phone], [email protected]