Royal Canadian Mint strikes circulation coin to celebrate 200th anniversary of the birth of Sir John A. Macdonald

KINGSTON, ON, Jan. 11, 2015 /CNW/ - As Canada approaches the 150^th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Royal Canadian Mint is proud to launch a two-dollar circulation coin celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. The coin was unveiled today at Sir John A. Macdonald community birthday celebrations in Kingston.

"Today we are celebrating the Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald, an architect of Canada's Confederation and one of our country's most important political figures," said the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Royal Canadian Mint. "His profoundly influential story as a historic nation-builder and fierce defender of our values and borders now has a permanent place on a circulation coin which will touch Canadians from coast to coast to coast."

"The Mint is proud to share great Canadian stories, including the remarkable Sir John A. Macdonald on our coins," said Marc Brûlé, Interim President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.  "As Canada counts down to the 150^th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Mint will continue to honour people and events which have shaped our nation and we will soon ask Canadians to actively participate in our program."

The coin's reverse image was designed by Canadian artist Glen Green and is inspired by archival photographs of Sir John A. Macdonald. Limited to a mintage of five million coins, Canadians can start looking for this coin in their change, attend coin exchanges at special events in select locations across Canada and at the Mint's Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver boutiques, or obtain limited quantities through an online coin exchange at www.mint.ca/canada150 (limited to Canada only). 

To further commemorate this milestone anniversary, related numismatic coins are also available to order now on www.mint.ca/canada150 and will be available at Mint boutiques as of January 13^th:

• A $10 silver coin with selective gold plating featuring an original portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald by Canadian artist Joel Kimmel ($69.95);
• A $20 ‎silver coin featuring a striking portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald by Canadian artist William Lazos, against the backdrop of the original Parliament Buildings ($89.95); and
• A $100 14-karat gold coin featuring an original portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald by Glen Green along with one of Macdonald's achievements, the completion of the Canadian Pacific railway ($599.95).

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 these coins are available by visiting ftp://communications:[e-mail].

SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint

Image with caption: "(from left to right) Marc Brûlé, Interim President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint unveils the two-dollar circulation coin celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Sir John A. Macdonald. He is accompanied by the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons; the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport; and Deepak Chopra, President and CEO of Canada Post, who unveiled a commemorative stamp. (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Mint)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150111_C3673_PHOTO_EN_10093.jpg

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

Related Links

http://www.mint.ca